The Terminal Man (1974)

Director:

Mike Hodges

Writers:

Michael Crichton (novel)
Mike Hodges (writer)

Release Date:

14 February 1975 (Finland)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Harry Benson is a brilliant computer scientist. For three minutes a day, he is violently homicidal.

Plot:

As the result of a head injury, brilliant computer scientist Harry Benson begins to experience violent seizures...

Plot Keywords:

Helicopter | Brain Damage | Mirror | Brain Surgery | Doctor

Cast

George Segal	...	Harry Benson
Joan Hackett	...	Dr. Janet Ross
Richard Dysart	...	Dr. John Ellis
Donald Moffat	...	Dr. Arthur McPherson
Michael C. Gwynne	...	Dr. Robert Morris
William Hansen	...	Dr. Ezra Manon
Jill Clayburgh	...	Angela Black
Norman Burton	...	Det. Capt. Anders
James Sikking	...	Ralph Friedman
Matt Clark	...	Gerhard
Jim Antonio	...	Richards
Gene Borkan	...	Benson's Guard
Burke Byrnes	...	Benson's Guard
Jordan Rhodes	...	Questioner No. 1
Dee Carroll	...	Night Nurse

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 | USA:PG | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Ennis-Brown House - 2655 Glendower Avenue, Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Crichton was fired from writing the screenplay due to the fact that his script did not follow the novel (which he had written) closely enough.

Quotes:

[small peephole opens in door to what appears to be a solitary confinement room from the inside POV; first man's eye is seen peering in]
1st man behind door: He's quiet now.
[moves aside, a second man's eye appears]
2nd man behind door: What's his name?
1st man behind door: Benson.
2nd man behind door: Looks okay to me. What's wrong with him?
1st man behind door: Ahh, he's bananas.
2nd man behind door: When's he going out?
1st man behind door: In the morning
[closes peephole]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

Soundtrack:

Goldberg Variation No. 25

They are coming for you next....

There are several premises in this film which may or may not be acceptable to the viewer, which will then determine whether or not you will like this film.

It was made in 1974. Anti-depressants and mind control were very much topics for discussion, as was Scientology. Can psycho-surgery cure rage and epilepsy? That is the question asked.

Joan Hackett is very good as the psychiatrist and Richard Dysart the knife happy surgeon. George Segal as the patient prone to violence has not much of a part here. The Jill Clayburgh character is downright clichéd and annoying.

Some of the scenes are effective such as the murder of Angela (Clayburgh) and the network of blood on white tile. The shower scene with Hackett is derivative of "Psycho" and Hitchcock down to the stark white interior.

Overall an interesting commentary on psychiatry and neurosurgery by Michael Crichton who had written this book, I do recall reading it years ago. It was new age before we had new age. A frightening look at medicine, psychiatric issues, and mind control. I would recommend reading the book for a clearer picture of the author's intent.