Surprisingly incoherent and boring

Sadly Over-hyped

Good concept, poorly executed.

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Harry Benson is brilliant scientist who after experiencing a car accident has violent seizures. A group of scientists carry out a special operation that they will believe will cure him of his malady; but like most of these scientists playing God films things never go according to plan. George Segal delivers a brilliant performance as the mentally tortured Benson and also conveys the menace of man on the edge. He really was an underrated actor only getting a few brilliant film roles (King Rat and Quiller Memorandum). The film is brilliantly directed by Mike Hodges who captures a sinister atmosphere and some brilliant cinematography. It is unclear when the film is set but it seems to be in some strange futuristic time that is sterile and dystopian. It is powerful cautionary tale about the desire to cure everything when scientists play God but the theme is handled in an original way as is the film. A lot of the reviews say that the film is "boring" but in reality if you appreciate a slow but nevertheless gripping and fascinating film, watch this classic science fiction film and you won't be disappointed. In conclusion, a very underrated film.

Just watched a pretty interesting sci-fi thriller from 1974, Mike Hodges' "The Terminal Man," starring George Segal, Joan Hackett, Jill Clayburgh, Richard Dysart and Ian Wolfe. Based on a Michael Crichton novel, this one tells the story of a computer programmer (Segal) who lives in fear that the machines of the world will soon be taking over the humans. His fears are made reality after he suffers a terrible car accident, the after effects of which leave him with occasional amnesiac and violent episodes. To effect a cure, he is made the subject of a new operation. A device is inserted into his brain that will deliver shocks to ward off these episodes. Unfortunately, the operation does not have the intended effect, and before long, Segal becomes a homicidal maniac, going bonkers at periods that the surgeons are able to predict. The film is very slow moving in its first half, and indeed, the operation that is performed on Segal takes up a very long part of the film's running time. But the movie is never boring, despite its deliberate pace. In the second half, as Segal grows increasingly mad, things get more interesting, of course. The main problem with the film, however, is that we never learn anything much about Segal's past, so as a character, he is pretty much a cipher throughout. The picture ends with a predictable albeit memorable downbeat finale, lending a touch of ambiguity to the film's title itself. Strangely enough, at one point in the film, the Clayburgh character is seen watching the movie "Them!" on her television...the very film that I had just watched a few days before. I thought that was pretty strange. Anyway, a marginal thumbs up for this '70s thriller.

I just watched this on TCM based on some of the "lost 70's classic" recommendations posted on here. It's not that the movie is too slow, as some have suggested, it's that it doesn't make any sense. Even 40 years ago the police would have been able to find the stripper girl friends apartment BEFORE he murders her and even if they failed at that, which is highly unlikely, they would have been watching his workplace to ensure he didn't return there. It doesn't seem to me that any rational thought was given as to the character motivations. What police guard would not report a missing inmate immediately? I will admit that George Segal gives a very good performance as do other cast members but it's all for naught given the ridiculous plotting.

I love Michael Crichton movies - Coma, Looker, Westworld, The Andromeda Strain, etc. These movies are fantastic. They're engrossing and exciting and interesting.But yikes, "The Terminal Man" was hard to watch. It was boring. I don't mind it was slow - one of my favorite movies of all time is "Barry Lyndon." What I minded was that nothing happens. *Spoilers Below* The movie is 105 minutes long and 2 things happen: the protagonist has a surgery and later he kills someone. Surgery scene lasts about 5 minutes, murder scene lasts about 2 minutes. So out of 105 minutes, only in 7 minutes does something actually happen (an event).I guess you could argue the scene when he breaks out of the hospital an event, but - they don't show it on screen. It's implied."The Terminal Man" is far from being the worst movie I've seen, but it is certainly in the running for the most boring. People sit and talk gently. In the next scene, people stand and talk. Then in another scene they walk and talk. Repeat. That's it. That's the whole movie if you include the 2 scenes mentioned above.Unreal. I wonder if the novel is this boring, I can't imagine it is. I tried hard to like this movie, since I think so highly of Michael Crichton I wanted to like it like I like Coma or Looker - but those movie have so much action, suspense, and mystery. "The Terminal Man" by contrast there's nothing to it, it's just people talking to each other. Even during the surgery scene I counted as one of the events of the movie - they just stand around and talk to each other in monotone. This is a rather tone-deaf effort. I fault the screenwriter (didn't even bother to look who it is) because the script is trash. Neat idea, without a doubt, but jeez the screenplay is awful.