Beyond The Planet Of The Apes: Six Seventies Sci-Fi Movies Worth Remaking
Why should the apes have all the fun?
This article is more than 2 years old
The Terminal Man
Don’t get me wrong, Mike Hodges’ 1974 adaptation of Michael Crichton’s 1972 novel is a perfectly suitable movie for the time period, and is probably still compelling. But after this year’s artificially unintelligent thriller Transcendence, sci-fi fans are in need of a smarter and more nuanced look at technology’s stronghold over human existence and identity. And while I’d love for a brand-spanking-new idea to come out of some sharp screenwriter’s brain out there, a dark and minimalist return to Crichton’s original novel seems like the best way to get this accomplished. (At least that’s what the electrodes in my head are making me think.)
The story centers on computer-fearing genius Harry Benson, an epileptic who allows surgeons to implant a pacemaker in his brain to try and control his seizures. Unfortunately, the implant takes little time to start working against proper protocols, and Harry begins experiencing extreme erotic pleasure from one of the electrodes, which leads his behavior to become increasingly erratic and violent. I’m picturing David Cronenberg’s Crash, only mixed with the suspense of his body horror films. This doesn’t have to be about the world’s fastest computers or giant advances in technology. It just has to be about a guy who succumbs to the very thing he was afraid of all along, and that’s an idea timeless enough to earn a remake. – Nick
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