The Terminal Man (1974)

Harry Benson is brilliant scientist who after experiencing a car accident has violent seizures. A group of scientists carry out a special operation that they will believe will cure him of his malady; but like most of these scientists playing God films things never go according to plan. George Segal delivers a brilliant performance as the mentally tortured Benson and also conveys the menace of man on the edge. He really was an underrated actor only getting a few brilliant film roles (King Rat and Quiller Memorandum). The film is brilliantly directed by Mike Hodges who captures a sinister atmosphere and some brilliant cinematography. It is unclear when the film is set but it seems to be in some strange futuristic time that is sterile and dystopian. It is powerful cautionary tale about the desire to cure everything when scientists play God but the theme is handled in an original way as is the film. A lot of the reviews say that the film is "boring" but in reality if you appreciate a slow but nevertheless gripping and fascinating film, watch this classic science fiction film and you won't be disappointed. In conclusion, a very underrated film.

It is an engaging, if cold hearted 1974 science-fiction movie penned by Michael Crichton, the doctor-turned-author responsible for such successes as THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN, WESTWORLD and COMA.George Segal stars as an computer scientist who has an electronic pacemaker inserted in his brain to prevent him from having epileptic fits. But something malfunctions and the device transforms him to a robotic killer.This is a fascinating story, well photographed by Mike (GET CARTER) Hodges. Unfortunately, it disintegrates at the end with a disappointing climax. Still, it is a good movie.

"The Terminal Man" is another under-appreciated film from the 1970's.It's a science fiction tale that is both austere and elegant.A cautionary tale of medical science and it's "we can cure anything or f#%k you up trying" mentality .Directer Mike Hodge does a wonderful job setting the tone and keeping it flowing in at a deliberate pace.Much like the film's beautiful classical based score.The actors are superb.The vastly underrated George Segal took a role way out of the "comfort zone" of the top actors of that era.(and he was one).He's very subdued, intelligent and very good.Joan Hackett is equally fine as a empathetic psychiatrist. Richard Dysart plays a super egotistical surgeon that still throws up before operating.The role I enjoyed best was that played by Michael C. Gwynne. With a glance here and one or two words there , he kept the tension flowing from scene to scene. Ambiguous and fun to watch.There are many rewarding subtleties and nuances throughout this film for the viewer with the willingness and patience.The plot revolves around a new experimental,innovative surgical procedure being utilized to stop Segal's character from having violence filled black-outs/seizures.Needless to say ,things go awry and the patient finds himself caught between a sudden addiction of his body to have these seizures so that it can receive the soothing "high" from the micro computer implanted in his brain.(Oh, I didn't mention the "patient" has a intense phobia of machines).There is a great scene where Segal (now pretty much berserk) breaks into the lab where he used to work(on robots no less) and he proceeds to bash them up and does great damage to them.They're still functioning in this damaged capacity and Segal's on his knees, in the middle of them,moving in rhythm as they move, to-fro, up-down. Segal holding his head, chanting "Make it stop...Make it stop.....

Segal plays a man who has had an accident and suffered some sort of cranial injury (I'm sorry Micheal Crichton, It really isn't explained well enough in my opinion). He is then subjected to a pioneering new medical treatment previously only ever tried on monkeys.This is where the film falls down. Has Micheal never heard of all the testing, trials and licensing procedures that drugs and medical procedures have to go through. So basically the entire idea for the plot is scuppered right away before the movie even really gets a chance to start.The film pursues the idea anyway, and Segal has a micro implant into his brain to control impulses that cause him want to kill.Yep, of course it fails and the implant starts giving him the impulses. Segal escapes the hospital after his operation (how is he even able to do anything after major surgery on his brain?) he starts having attacks and kills his girlfriend and runs off on a frenetic killing frenzy. his implant is being monitored and the scientists are able to predict when he will strike but not where. (surely the nuclear implant would have been traceable?) finally after killing a priest Segal thinks about killing himself and finds himself in a cemetery (didn't understand how he got here either) and falls into an open grave but is carrying a pistol. he has a seemingly fatal fit but is near catatonic - not dead. the police kill him despite the fact he has dropped his gun (the marksman would have seen this through his telescopic sight and LEGALLY could not fire his weapon so he committed murder) and the end is very bad and totally impossible to understand.are they planning to try this procedure again with another prisoner? weird but strangely watchable like THX-1138.