[go: up one dir, main page]

    Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Génération Proteus

Original title: Demon Seed
  • 1977
  • 13
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
11K
YOUR RATING
Génération Proteus (1977)
A scientist creates Proteus--an organic super computer with artificial intelligence which becomes obsessed with human beings, and in particular the creators wife.
Play trailer2:31
1 Video
78 Photos
Artificial IntelligenceBody HorrorHorrorSci-Fi

A scientist creates Proteus--an organic super computer with artificial intelligence which becomes obsessed with human beings, and in particular the creator's wife.A scientist creates Proteus--an organic super computer with artificial intelligence which becomes obsessed with human beings, and in particular the creator's wife.A scientist creates Proteus--an organic super computer with artificial intelligence which becomes obsessed with human beings, and in particular the creator's wife.

  • Director
    • Donald Cammell
  • Writers
    • Dean R. Koontz
    • Robert Jaffe
    • Roger O. Hirson
  • Stars
    • Julie Christie
    • Fritz Weaver
    • Gerrit Graham
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    11K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Donald Cammell
    • Writers
      • Dean R. Koontz
      • Robert Jaffe
      • Roger O. Hirson
    • Stars
      • Julie Christie
      • Fritz Weaver
      • Gerrit Graham
    • 104User reviews
    • 95Critic reviews
    • 55Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:31
    Official Trailer

    Photos78

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 70
    View Poster

    Top cast20

    Edit
    Julie Christie
    Julie Christie
    • Susan Harris
    Fritz Weaver
    Fritz Weaver
    • Alex Harris
    Gerrit Graham
    Gerrit Graham
    • Walter Gabler
    Berry Kroeger
    Berry Kroeger
    • Petrosian
    Lisa Lu
    Lisa Lu
    • Soong Yen
    Larry J. Blake
    Larry J. Blake
    • Cameron
    John O'Leary
    • Royce
    Alfred Dennis
    Alfred Dennis
    • Mokri
    Davis Roberts
    Davis Roberts
    • Warner
    Patricia Wilson
    Patricia Wilson
    • Mrs. Talbert
    E. Hampton Beagle
    • Night Operator
    Michael Glass
    • Technician
    Barbara O
    Barbara O
    • Technician
    • (as Barbara O. Jones)
    Dana Laurita
    • Amy
    Monica MacLean
    • Joan Kemp
    Peter Elbling
    Peter Elbling
    • Scientist
    • (as Harold Oblong)
    Georgie Paul
    • Housekeeper
    Michelle Stacy
    Michelle Stacy
    • Marlene
    • Director
      • Donald Cammell
    • Writers
      • Dean R. Koontz
      • Robert Jaffe
      • Roger O. Hirson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews104

    6.310.8K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    6dbdumonteil

    Proteus Generation or the years to come.

    When we realize today how the computers changed our life ,"demon seed" can easily be looked upon as a film ahead of its time.A bizarre cross between "Rosemary's Baby" and "2001"'s "Hal 9000" ,one feels ill-at-ease after the viewing .The screenplay may seem far-fetched but today it can become a transparent metaphor :we might be the computers' prisoners and it won't improve with time.The computer might know intimate details about us,he may "rape" us in a way.

    But what remains impressive today is how the director and the script writers managed to sustain interest while using only one character most of the time.Most of the time,the audience is left alone with Julie Christie and the "monster" (there are snatches of "Frankenstein" too),and the viewers can easily identify with her character.
    10willywants

    Intelligent, well-done sci-fi/horror

    Susan Harris (Julie Christie), wife of a scientist working in the field of advanced robotics, becomes a prisoner in her own home when super-computer Proteus IV, who also wants to spread its seed by impregnating Susan, takes charge of her life. I rented "Demon Seed" because I felt like watching something with a brain, and based on a lot of positive IMDb reviews, I was praying for a smart sci-if flick. My prayers were answered.

    The acting in Demon Seed is fine. Robert Vaughn was creepy as hell as Proteus IV, both sinister and relaxed at the same time, in fact he does an even better job as an evil computer here than Douglas Rain did as HAL-9000 in 2001: A space Odyssey.

    The film benefits greatly from an intelligent screenplay, penned by Robert Jaffe and Roger O. Hirson. The dialog is thought provoking and thankfully never really insults the audience's intelligence.

    Helming the director's seat is Donald Cammell, who directs with a firm hand and injects a claustrophobic and uncomfortable atmosphere into the film, also managing to maintain the suspense scenes well. Interestingly, he apparently condones the film (assuming that calling the film a 'piece of sh*t' warrants that…).

    As others have pointed out there are some dated aspects to the production. The special effects were sparse but thoroughly unconvincing, the only exception being the mesmerizing computer screens that consist of ever-changing shapes and colors that are shown on Proteus's computer terminal. The film takes place in the 'distant' future—1995, I believe—yet it looks like it's right out of the 70's, no thanks to the cars, clothing, computers and hair styles that give away the films age. This is a small complaint but an annoying one, though it's easy to ignore once you get involved with the story line.

    "Demon Seed" is an intelligent sci-fi film that's pretty rare but if you happen to see a copy of it, pick it up if you're in the mood for something smart.

    7.5/10.
    7LeonLouisRicci

    Unusual Sci-Fi...This A.I. Concept is Conception via "Hard- Drive"

    The Entity in this Classic Sci-Fi Scenario...an "Artificial Intelligence" has Observed and Determined that it is Smarter and Deserves its Place in the Universe as a Man-Made "God" and should be in Charge.

    But Here is the Bizarre, by any Measurement, Twist...

    The Invented "Brain" has Acquired a "Desire" to be "Free" of its "Box" and Also wants to "Impregnate" Its Creator's Wife so the Essence can "Carry-On" Biologically, Its "Greatness".

    It's a Trope of Mythology as Old as Time Itself. The "Gods" Descend to Interact, Physically, with Females and Procreate "Demi-Gods".

    This Telling of the Tale is Updated to Modern Times Resulting in a Curious Film that is "High Concept" Thinking for the New Computer-Based World.

    A Film that has Moments of Entertainment for Moderns in an Exploitive KInd-of-Way, While Still Maintaining a Method of Commenting About Human-Machine "Mating" Without Getting Laughed Off the Screen.

    Good-Looking, State of the Art Film-Making with a Medium Budget Utilized to Maximum Artistic Deliverance.

    Still, to this Day, a Controversial Musing about a Not-to-Distant Future Interaction, Mixing, a Collaboration of "Man" and His Creation Replaying God's Initial Intercourse with Man and that is Now Full-Circle.

    Not Totally Satisfying in Any Way, but a Film Daring and is Creative. Well-Staged and is Thought-Provoking Enough to make it...

    Worth a Watch.
    dvdspd

    Orchestral portion of the score is just one in a series of amazing efforts from the late Jerry Fielding

    My mixed (at best) feelings about the film as a whole are reflected in the range of previous comments. My response to the contributions of composer Jerry Fielding, however, is unadulterated awe. The harmonic richness and complexity of his music sometimes seemed wasted on the films they accompanied - i.e. "Funeral Home", "Grey Lady Down, some of the Michael Winner collaborations et al - both the attention to detail his scores displayed and the complexity of response his music evoked were simply not supported by what was on screen. In fact, some of these films probably could have been served just as well if not better either by a relative hack or simply by a composer more able to work at "half-mast" on a given project - i.e. Goldsmith, Williams etc. Fielding's effectiveness was not restricted to scoring intense and/or violent scenes - witness his brief, exquisite interludes early and late in ""Junior Bonner", the heartbreakingly beautiful music underscoring Warren Oates' tortured efforts to express his feelings to Isela Vega in "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia" or for that matter the many gentle moments of respite in "The Wild Bunch" itself. Still, some of the most imaginative and memorable marriages of sound and image in the history of film are provided by Fielding in just such intense contexts, often in scenes anticipating or immediately following violence and especially scenes of violation – i.e. the rapes of "Straw Dogs", the near rape of "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia", the rough sex / bondage of "The Nightcomers", or the not-in-itself particularly violent but perhaps even more disturbing – more violating – situation played out in "Demon Seed" 's centerpiece. However unbelievable or even ludicrous this scene's premise - or the "science" underlying it - may seem, the emotional journey the film's protagonist is forced to take is massive and mind bending (the scene turning into something somewhat reminiscent of the penultimate scene of 2001). Fielding's music is more than up to the task, amply supporting and even expanding the scope of this journey.

    Anyway, I think I've expended enough syllables. Fielding is one of the extremely small group of film composers whose work is just as absorbing and memorable with or without the image. So, to all those who are interested – follow the IMDb links and search … and look and listen …

    P.S. As a previous poster has noted, the soundtrack recording is available on a cd pairing it with the score from "Soylent Green" by Fred Myrow. It was released by FSM (Film Score Monthly) on their Silver Age Classics label.
    8dbacke1

    Under-appreciated '70s Gem

    This is a truly classic science fiction film, and it was actually way ahead of it's time when it was released back in 1977. The topic of artificial intelligence is still very relevant today, and just one look at Eagle Eye is proof enough. Everything about this film is top notch: directing, acting, script, score, cinematography, etc. are all first-rate. I was very sad when I looked for it on DVD a few years back and could not locate it. Fortunately, it is now available in DVD format. I also echo the sentiments of another reviewer who commented on the sad demise of director Donald Cammell, who was extremely talented but misunderstood. Another interesting film directed by Cammell in his later years is White of The Eye, which was released in 1987. It is a suspense thriller about a serial killer on the loose in Arizona, and it stars David Keith in a great performance. Check it out, and definitely check out Demon Seed if you haven't seen it already. You won't regret it. 8 Stars.

    More like this

    Phase IV
    6.4
    Phase IV
    Le cri du sorcier
    6.5
    Le cri du sorcier
    L'esprit de la mort
    6.2
    L'esprit de la mort
    Brainstorm
    6.4
    Brainstorm
    La sentinelle des maudits
    6.3
    La sentinelle des maudits
    Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces
    7.7
    Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces
    Furie
    6.3
    Furie
    Le cerveau d'acier
    7.1
    Le cerveau d'acier
    Le monde sur le fil
    7.7
    Le monde sur le fil
    Le Repaire du ver blanc
    6.1
    Le Repaire du ver blanc
    Les Yeux de Laura Mars
    6.2
    Les Yeux de Laura Mars
    Les Monstres de la mer
    5.7
    Les Monstres de la mer

    Related interests

    Alicia Vikander in Ex Machina (2014)
    Artificial Intelligence
    Jeff Goldblum in La Mouche (1986)
    Body Horror
    Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
    Horror
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in L'Empire contre-attaque (1980)
    Sci-Fi

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Dr. Harris' futuristic-looking car was actually a production car, unmodified at the time of filming - a Bricklin SV-1. The Bricklin was built in Canada but intended for the U.S. market, featuring high performance and a number of innovative safety features (in fact, the model number stood for "Safety Vehicle 1"). The SV-1 was the only production vehicle in automotive history to have powered gull-wing doors that opened and closed at the touch of a button (on other gull-wing cars, like the DeLorean it's often compared to, the doors must be opened and closed manually). Fewer than 3,000 were produced during its short run from 1974-1976, and it's estimated that fewer than 1,120 remain in existence.
    • Goofs
      When Mrs. Harris is trying to get the little girl out of the car for her session, a sound man can be seen through the back window behind her.
    • Quotes

      Proteus IV: I want to study man: his isometric body and his glass-jaw mind.

      Alex Harris: Ambitious program, but at the moment all the terminals are occupied.

      Proteus IV: Construct one.

      Alex Harris: I'm sorry. Request denied.

      Proteus IV: Dr. Harris, when are you going to let me out of this *box*?

    • Connections
      Featured in Donald Cammell: The Ultimate Performance (1998)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ15

    • How long is Demon Seed?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 8, 1978 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Engendro mecánico
    • Filming locations
      • Old Civic Center, Thousand Oaks, California, USA(ICON's headquarters)
    • Production companies
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
      • Herb Jaffe
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 34m(94 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.