Results: Creepy computer films
Published on 11/29/2023
Growing up, I went through a phase when some films featuring super-intelligent computers creeped me out a bit. A knife slasher can be scary, as can a robot or cyborg, but have a form of some type. A computer is just a mind in a box that can control things. The idea of our technology getting the better of us and our relationship with it is a subject I enjoy today. In any case, some creepy computer films, in no particular order.
QUESTIONS
GO to COMMENTS
Comments
1.
1.
2001: A Space Odyssey - HAL 9000 (Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic) controls the systems of The Discovery while on a journey to Jupiter. Nothing but a glowing red eye and Douglas Rains flat, ever calm voice. Ability to read lips. Ends up becoming paranoid when it believes Dave Bowman and Frank Poole are going to compromise the mission. Asked this in another survey, but if missed, do you think it possible for a computer to develop personality problems?
Yes- if it were that freaking smart to the point of artificial intelligence and in control of systems.
31%
675 votes
No - AI or not, they do what they were programed to do (right?).
37%
805 votes
Not Applicable
33%
720 votes
2.
2.
Colossus: The Forbin Project - Colossus, a US defense computer that decides to assume control of the world. Hooking up with it's Russian counterpart Guardian (both voiced by Paul Frees), Colossus puts its creator Dr. Forbin under constant watch, threatening him and the world through nuclear blackmail. What do you think, a computer in control of defense?
Yes - fine with me, at least it would be impartial.
10%
229 votes
No - I like the human factor, and there's the whole Skynet / Terminator aspect, as far fetched at that might be.
52%
1143 votes
Not Applicable
38%
828 votes
3.
3.
Demon Seed - Based on a novel by Dean Koontz, Proteus IV (voiced by Robert Vaughn) traps the wife of it's creator Dr. Harris in their automated home to artificially inseminate her in order to put it's mind in a human child. While a far-fetched premise, in this day and age where such homes are a reality, do you or would you feel a 'prisoner' in your own home?
Yes - Security is one thing, but having some system that controls everything, talking back, anticipating, does start to be overkill and starts to feel who's in control, me, or the house?
31%
673 votes
No - I am in control of it all, can shut it down should it malfunction or get a mind of it's own (right?)
28%
620 votes
Not Applicable
41%
907 votes
4.
4.
Alphaville - Created by Prof. von Braun, Alpha 60 controls Alphaville, a city where free thought and concepts like emotion, love and poetry are banned. Those who show signs of these are rounded up, interrogated and executed. Lucky for the citizens of the city, secret agent Lemmy Caution (Eddie Constantine) is on the case with a mission to capture or kill von Braun and destroy Alpha 60. Which begs the question, if the dystopian aspects of this scenario were removed, would you live in a totally computer controlled city?
Yes - a lot of things we encounter on a given day already are computer controlled.
11%
243 votes
No - maybe some things, but again would start to feel who's in control here?
50%
1104 votes
Not Applicable
39%
853 votes
5.
5.
Wargames - While not as creepy as some on the list, the idea of someone hacking into a missile defense system is, whether by mistake or as a terrorist. WOPR (War Operation Plan Response) doesn't set out to be a threat as Colossus does, but ends up being one by following what it was programed to do. John Wood plays WOPR's creator Dr. Falken, and also provides it's voice. Oddly enough, chess and other games could be considered 'war games' ever play some of those below?
Chess
27%
587 votes
Risk
20%
446 votes
Stratego
10%
221 votes
Any sort of war video game - World of Warcraft, the Tom Clancy ones, etc.
9%
205 votes
Any sort of table top war role play game using dice, maybe figures.
8%
181 votes
Not Applicable
55%
1212 votes
COMMENTS