In the future, Delos is the dream vacation destination - if you ever wanted to be a bandit in the old west or romance a princess in a castle, Delos is the place for you.
Encompassing three different period environments populated by human-looking robots, Delos offers an immersive experience you will never forget.
Peter (Richard Benjamin) and John (James Brolin) are old friends who take a vacation in Westworld.
While they settle in, trouble is brewing in the bowels of Delos.
A virus is spreading through the machines, causing them to override their programming and start attacking the guests.
Peter soon finds himself the target of the Gunslinger (Yul Brynner), an unstoppable killing machine who will not stop until he is dead.
It is ironic that Westworld has become famous as the basis for the expansive TV series, because one of the joys of the original movie is how succinct it is.
Shot on a small budget and cut to the bone, Westworld’s brevity is one of its strengths.
Even the limited use of music adds to the unsettling vibe.
Vibe is the key word with this film.
The acting is okay, and the production values are stock, but it adds to the film’s sense of atmosphere.
Despite its high concept, Westworld is marked by its lack of flash - the style is deliberately straightforward and designed to evoke western cliches.
The robots all play familiar western archetypes - the old inn keeper, the taciturn sheriff, the sly madam.
The key reason for the film’s success is Yul Brynner as the Gunfighter.
A dry run for Ah-nuld’s performance as the Terminator, Brynner plays off his established persona from The Magnificent Seven.
With his stock, clipped dialogue, deliberate motion and unflinching stare, he is an uncanny, terrifying presence.
He is so effective that even when the movie turns into a foot-chase through Delos, the tension remains high.
The third act of the movie is maybe a little too neat but as a concept and a vibe, Westworld is worth checking out.
It is unsurprising Michael Crichton recycled the basic premise for Jurassic Park.
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