(1977)
2.5
Donald Guarisco
The plot for Demon Seed might lead some viewers to expect a bizarre mixture of sci-fi and sexploitation, but the film itself is much more restrained and intelligent than one might think. The script does an above-average job of making its unusual premise believable and crafts a strong, genuinely intriguing female protagonist in Susan Harris. Julie Christie lives up to this demanding role with a carefully nuanced performance that makes her sympathetic, and Robert Vaughn also turns in some fine work with his subtly menacing voice characterization for Proteus IV. However, Demon Seed suffers some problems in the area of pacing. Donald Cammell's direction establishes a creepy, antiseptic "futuristic" atmosphere, but allows the film's midsection to meander with some overly intellectuallized conversations between Susan and Proteus IV. Despite this problem, the film recovers nicely for an ending that is equal parts The Twilight Zone and David Lynch-ish weirdness. To sum up, Demon Seed is too unusual and erratically paced for the average viewer, but hits a combination of intelligence and eccentricity that is bound to intrigue cult movie buffs.
Demon Seed on AllMovie
Demon Seed (1977)
