The Terminal Man (film)
| The Terminal Man | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Mike Hodges |
| Produced by | Mike Hodges |
| Written by | Mike Hodges |
| Based on |
The Terminal Man by Michael Crichton |
| Starring |
George Segal Joan Hackett Richard A. Dysart Donald Moffat Michael C. Gwynne William Hansen Jill Clayburgh |
| Cinematography | Richard H. Kline |
| Edited by | Robert L. Wolfe |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
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Release date
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Running time
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107 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Terminal Man is a 1974 film directed by Mike Hodges, based on the 1972 novel of the same name by Michael Crichton. It stars George Segal. The story centers on the immediate dangers of mind control and the power of computers.
Harry Benson, an extremely intelligent (IQ 144) computer programmer in his 30s, suffers from epilepsy. He often has seizures which induce a blackout, after which he awakens to unfamiliar surroundings with no knowledge of what he has done. He also suffers from delusions that computers will rise up against humans.
Benson suffers from Acute Disinhibitory Lesion (ADL) syndrome, and is a prime candidate for an operation known as "Stage Three". Stage Three requires surgeons to implant electrodes in his brain and connect them to a miniature computer in his chest which is meant to control the seizures. The surgery is a success.
Benson's psychiatrist, Janet Ross, is concerned that once the operation is complete, Benson will suffer further psychosis as a result of his person merging with that of a computer, something he has come to distrust and disdain. Shortly before he can fully recover, Benson suffers a relapse and his electrode malfunctions while his brain has more severe seizures, making him more violent and dangerous.
The film's ending greatly differs from the novel. In the novel, the final confrontation occurs between Benson and the doctors in the hospital. In the film, Benson goes to a cemetery and jumps into a six foot deep grave just prior to one of his seizures. He is then shot to death by a police sniper in a helicopter.
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.
Terrence Malick, the director of Badlands, wrote to Hodges expressing how much he loved watching The Terminal Man, saying "Your images make me understand what an image is."
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