Demon Seed

Julie Christie brings down the house—or is it the other way around?—in this suspenseful and bizarre techno thriller based on Dean Koontz's novel. Released in 1977 (the same year as Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind), director Donald Cammell's Demon Seed is a computer-age Rosemary's Baby, in which Christie stars as Susan, the estranged wife of a scientist (Fritz Weaver) who has just completed work—apparently at the cost of his marriage—on Proteus IV, a new supercomputer with the ability to think. "My dream turns out to be your nightmare," he sighs. Understatement! Hal from 2001: A Space Odyssey has nothing on the brilliant and increasingly malevolent Proteus (creepily voiced by Robert Vaughn), who expresses a desire to study Man—demanding of his creator, "When are you going to let me out of this box?" Ultimately, Proteus takes control of Susan's house in an inconceivable plot to impregnate her and take human form. Demon Seed's hardware and special effects are dated, of course, but that doesn't diminish the power of this disturbing and mind-blowing tale, presented with an excellent transfer on an extra-less disc (except for the trailer). A minor cult favorite, this is recommended. (D. Liebenson)[Blu-ray Review—Apr. 4, 2017—Warner, 94 min., R, Blu-ray: $21.99—Making its debut on Blu-ray, 1977's Demon Seed sports a great transfer and a DTS-HD 2.0 soundtrack, but no extras. Bottom line: this cult thriller sparkles on Blu-ray.]