Westworld (1973)

Director: Michael Crichton
Starring: Yul Brynner, Richard Benjamin, James Brolin

Synopsis:
State-of-the-art androids start to malfunction at a futuristic theme park with deadly results.

Impressions:
A theme park featuring cutting-edge technology that goes awry with carnage and mayhem close behind. Where have I heard that before? This movie basically serves as a prototype for Jurassic Park, which is cool. This was Michael Crichton's first feature film in the director's chair (his debut was the TV movie Pursuit, another piece he both wrote and directed) and it plays with the themes that would be common in his work like the unexpected consequences of emerging technology. The setting is pretty neat and it's fun watching people play around in their respective scenarios before everything goes to pot. Yul Brynner is really cool in this, cooler still when you realize that his portrayal of the Gunfighter inspired both Michael Myers and the Terminator. Particularly in his first scene, he has some great subtle mannerisms that dip into the uncanny valley. Given that Westworld has gotten remade as a series on HBO, you may want to see the original. Give it a watch.

Rating:
Watch It