Why robots suck Pt. 1: The Stepford Wives
This week we’re exposing examples of robots in pop culture that hinder the development of actual badass bots. If you missed the initial post on the subject, here’s a recap. Movies like I, Robot and that forthcoming Bruce Willis stink bomb feature pissed-off androids bent on human destruction. Who wants to fund a project like that? Here’s the first guilty party in our series.
The Stepford Wives
Written by the great Ira Levin, The Stepford Wives is part satire and part commentary. In the story, a young New Yorker moves to Stepford, Connecticut. She notices that the men of Stepford are married to impossibly beautiful and conciliatory women. Of course, the cyber-shit hits the fan when our heroine discovers the truth — those men have taken to killing their wives and replacing them with fawning robots. Above is what Bravo calls the movie’s scariest scene, and we agree.
Levin’s novel is a modern classic and the 1975 film adaptation by Bryan Forbes is terrific and damn creepy. Too creepy in fact. Artificial intelligence that drives murderous men to build high-tech sex toys? No, no. That’s not what we want!
All I’m after is a pit droid to change the oil in my Saturn. Maybe a bending unit to make hilariously rude comments. Levin’s robots are submissive and eerie. Bryan’s actresses are emotionless and distant. And they’re all coming between me and my own Twiki!
Your link above should read 1975, not 1957.