Review of Futureworld (1976) by Stuart K — 07 Feb 2013

After Westworld (1973) proved to be a big success, producer Paul Lazarus III wanted to do a sequel, but Michael Crichton and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer said no to doing one. However, Lazarus took it to American International Pictures, who loved the idea and immediately greenlit it.

While the film isn't as good as the original, and it does lack the action of the original, it's central premise is quite interesting. After learning their lessons of what happened a few years previously, the Delos Corporation invests over $1.

5 billion into making their park work with stringent safety measures to ensure this doesn't happen again. For publicity purposes, they invite newspaper journalist Chuck Browning (Peter Fonda) and TV reporter Tracy Ballard (Blythe Danner) are invited to spend a few days at the park, and see if they like the improvements Delos have made to the park, which includes space themed park Future World.

But, they discover a sinister plot by the parks staff, and they're saved by mechanic Harry (Stuart Margolin) when they find someone is out to get them. It's a slower, more character driven film than Westworld, even Yul Brynner reappears as the Gunslinger in a surreal dream sequence, but it wasn't all bad, as this was also the first film to use CGI and the first American film to be shown in Communist China.

Not all bad then.