THE TERMINAL MAN (1974)
3 stars
Arrow Video. Limited Edition Blu ray. 10th March
If you look at the advertising, THE TERMINAL MAN was sold as a thriller – shame it’s less than thrilling! Unsuccessful on it’s release in the US, it never saw the light of a projector beam in the UK as Warner Bros chose not to distribute it.
Based on the 1972 novel by Michael Crichton, it was directed by Mike Hodges – best known for GET CARTER (1971). In it, George Segal plays Harry Benson, a highly intelligent individual who suffers from seizures, that he doesn’t remember, which often turn violent. Just before his blackouts he smells pig shit and turpentine, so he knows he is about to have a turn.
He consents to be the first human to have a mini computer, the size of postage stamp, implanted in his neck. Powered by an atomic pack in his shoulder, it is wired into his brain and means the fits can be controlled. We are “treated” to a long and protracted sequence showing the operation.
Initial tests show it is successful in suppressing the attacks – but of course these things never run smoothly and soon after he goes missing from the hospital…
Director Hodges wanted to shoot in black and white – when this was vetoed he chose to have much of the film shot in the whites and greys of the hospital with most of the costumes monochrome – with splashes of red, especially in one of the violent scenes as blood seeps along some floor tiles.
It is not difficult to see why this was a bust at the box office, as it’s all rather bleak, incredibly slow and dour. It’s all a bit po-faced and dare I say it more than little bit dull.
In some ways this could be seen as more relevant today – with current experiments with brain implants.
Some scenes were shot at the famous Ennis House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright (which famously appeared in HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (1959) and BLADE RUNNER (1982)).
Look out for scenes from THEM (1954) which make an appearance on a TV set.
You get two cuts of the film on this release – theatrical and director’s cut
