Thu 27 Jul 2017
A Science Fiction Movie Review by Jonathan Lewis: THE TERMINAL MAN (1974).
Posted by Steve under Reviews , SF & Fantasy films[7] Comments
THE TERMINAL MAN. Warner Brothers, 1974). George Segal, Joan Hackett, Richard Dysart, Donald Moffat, Michael C. Gwynne, Jill Clayburgh, James Sikking. Based on the book by Michael Crichton. Producer-director-screenwriter: Mike Hodges.
Adapted from Michael Crichton’s 1971 novel, The Terminal Man is an auteur project the likes of which could never be released by a mainstream film studio today. Written, directed, and produced by Mike Hodges, this offbeat science fiction thriller features George Segal as Harry Benson, a man suffering from a form of psychomotor epilepsy that causes him to occasionally fly into uncontrollable violent rages. A genius computer programmer, Benson was in a car accident that left him with a seizure disorder that has crippled his life. Not only does he experience auras and seizures, he also now has delusions that computers are going rise up and control humanity.
Benson decides that he wants to volunteer for an experimental medical procedure, one in which electrodes are implanted in his brain. If his disorder makes him violent, he figures he would rather give over what is left of his free will to a computer if that will prevent his violent behavior. The irony of a man afraid of computers rising up against humanity agreeing to such a procedure is not lost on his psychiatrist, Janet Ross (Joan Hackett). A moral, humanist voice, she urges her colleagues not to go through with this procedure. But to no avail. As you might imagine, the surgery doesn’t go quite as planned and it is only a matter of time before Benson escapes from the hospital and begins a murderous rampage.
That the movie’s plot. But this isn’t really a plot driven film. It’s a visual experience, more arthouse than grindhouse. It’s one in which symbolic imagery and set designs in stark hues of blue and gray are utilized to convey meaning. It is a stark, dehumanizing world. The essence of what it means to be fully human is explored not so much through dialogue, but through shots of bleak, empty hospital hallways, a brightly lit tunnel, and a graveyard.
For a movie that deals with cerebral topics – both literally and metaphorically — The Terminal Man isn’t a film that was made to make viewers think so much as to feel. Perhaps that was the whole point.
July 27th, 2017 at 9:47 pm
I’m afraid what I thought was that it wasn’t a particularly good movie and my least favorite Crichton book.
July 27th, 2017 at 10:16 pm
I’ve never read anything by Crichton, and I confess I never had ay desire to. Just not my kind of reading material (based on hearsay, I know, for hoe would I know?)
To me, the movie moved extremely slow, but I could tell that the choice to do so was intentional. Mike Hodges was interested in imagery, and imagery is what you get in this movie. At the expense of the story? Yes, but how much it might bother someone depends on the someone. It certainly isn’t the kind of movie that could be made today, or put it this way. If made, it wouldn’t be with the intention of making any money.
Looking at its Wikipedia page, I discovered this:
“Crichton was originally hired to adapt the novel himself, but Warner Bros. felt he had departed from the source material too much and had another writer adapt it. ‘I don’t think they [Warner Bros] gave it a chance,’ said Crichton later.”
If this is true, that Crichton was fired from the job, I don’t know if I’ve heard of this as a reason before.
July 27th, 2017 at 10:29 pm
I was employed at CTI records when The Terminal man was in preparation. The script was submitted to us, and I was assigned to making a ‘book’ report, of the screenplay, not the novel which I have yet to read. I was negative. A tedious bore, so no surprise Terence Malick admired the completed film. The purpose was to create musical interest with Deodato doing the score.
July 28th, 2017 at 5:33 am
Steve, if you’re looking for a Crichton book that might appeal to you, what about CONGO?
July 28th, 2017 at 9:07 am
Crichton won an Edgar writing as Jeffrey Hudson for “A Case Of Need”. Once he became well-known, reprints were published under his real name. It was made into a so-so James Coburn film, “The Carey Treatment”. I believe the Edgar was for best first novel. I also liked his Victorian period heist novel “The Great Train Robbery”, which was made into a good Sean Connery film.
With their criminous plots, you might try those, Steve.
July 28th, 2017 at 1:11 pm
Jeff and Rick
Thanks for the suggestions. All of the above are worth trying, and given a chance, I most certainly will.
Neither of you mentioned the thrillers Crichton did very early on as by John Lange, most if not all have been recently reprinted by Hard Case Crime in very handsome trade paperback editions. I have or two of those that are calling me by name to read them.
But, as it so happens, I have a copy of THE TERMINAL MAN, which I started last night. I thought I’d give it a try, mostly to see how closely the movie followed the book.
The answer is, extremely well, at least through the first three chapters. I don’t know if I’ll finish it, since I know how it comes out, but Crichton’s writing style is very smooth and is designed to keep the reader turning the pages, without realizing how late it is at night.
July 29th, 2017 at 12:38 am
The John Lange books are the best of Crichton for my money. They are smart light, well researched, and move. The Hudson book is good as well.