Automatic (1995)

Robgen industries newest security system is "The J Series Automatic", an android model designed and programmed to protect humans from violent attacks. But one night, an Automatic named J269... See full summary »

Director:

John Murlowski

Writers:

Patrick Highsmith (story), Susan Lambert (screenplay),

Stars:

Olivier Gruner, Daphne Ashbrook, John Glover

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Olivier Gruner	...	J269
Daphne Ashbrook	...	Nora Rochester
John Glover	...	Goddard Marx
Jeff Kober	...	Major West
Dennis Lipscomb	...	Raymond Hammer
Stanley Kamel	...	Seth Barker
Penny Johnson	...	Julia Rodriguez
Annabelle Gurwitch	...	Gloria Takamatsu
Troy Evans	...	Buck James
Marjean Holden	...	Epsilon Leader
Raymond Fitzpatrick	...	Eugene Dibbs
Jeffrey D. Sams	...	Harry
Michael D. Weatherred	...	Glenn (as Michael Weatherred)
Laura Stepp	...	Mother
Roger Nolan	...	Father

Storyline

Robgen industries newest security system is "The J Series Automatic", an android model designed and programmed to protect humans from violent attacks. But one night, an Automatic named J269 discovers a Robgen executive trying to rape a female employee named Nora Rochester. While trying to stop the crime, he inadvertently kills the executive. At this point, J269 then calls Goddard Marx (his creator and a Robgen chairman) to inform him of the incident. Marx tells the android to stay there with Rochester until help arrives, but Marx is intent on sweeping the fiasco under the rug by sending mercenaries to eliminate both J269 and Rochester. Now the two are fugitives on the run from a para-military hit squad.

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Plot Keywords:

android | elevator shaft | attempted rape | robot | bodyguard | 

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Taglines:

The ultimate weapon. He's half human and fully automatic.

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 April 1995 (South Korea)

Also Known As:

Acélszív

Filming Locations:

Vernon, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lakeview Productions, Republic Pictures (II)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

Olivier Gruner is miscredited as Oliver Gruner on the box art.

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Quotes

Major West: In the old days, I would have raped and tortured you for hours. There's just no time for life's simple pleasures anymore. Oh, well. Goodnight.

User Reviews

Robots in disguise...

Olivier Gruner finally finds the one role he excels at, a robot who protects a woman from her boss/rapist who the corporation then decide to send an army to kill both her and the robot to avoid bad press and save face with stock holders, making Gruner the only one who can protect her and save the day. Automatic is a solid reason why one can't write off straight to video science fiction. Automatic is well directed, well made and has moments of true atmosphere. The movie also has some good ideas such as how robots are intertwined with humans and how the robot in question weren't trying to take over the world and rather provide confused responses to human nature. This is a movie where the bad guys are human and the hero is a robot who deals in black and white morals because it's the way he's been programmed. It also has that Blade Runner vibe of how the corporations are the evils of society and on its own level it succeeds rather well. This is easily the best thing you'll ever see from Olivier Gruner and aside from the bad acting from the cast (John Glover and Gruner aside...) the film works in both categories its been sold as. My only complaint was that it didn't feature more robot's responses toward issues regarding human nature but it is an Olivier Gruner movie. His best one by the way.

* * * out of 4-(Good)