Terminal Error (2002)

Director:

John Murlowski

Writer (WGA):

T.L. Petrie (written by)

Release Date:

26 April 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Powerful automation software begins to make decisions for itself. |

Plot Keywords:

Artificial Intelligence | Technology | Human Versus Computer

Cast

Michael Nouri	...	Brad
Marina Sirtis	...	Alex
Matthew Ewald	...	Dylan
David Wells	...	Russ
Timothy Busfield	...	Elliot
Audrey Wasilewski	...	Kathy
Robert Covarrubias	...	Kenny
Rick Cramer	...	Detective
David Storrs	...	Recruit
Kim Delgado	...	Franklin
Jane Yamamoto	...	Miriam
Robert Leon Casey	...	Pilot (as Robert Casey)
Scott Clifton	...	Jock
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jason Tatum	...	Plant Engineer (uncredited)

Directed by
John Murlowski

Writing credits (WGA)
T.L. Petrie		(written by)

Produced by
William T. Baumann	....	executive producer
Joseph Broido	....	executive producer (as Joe Broido)
Joseph Broido	....	producer (as Joe Broido)
Bari Carrelli	....	co-producer
Michael Jacobs	....	co-executive producer (as Michael D. Jacobs)
Bruce D. Johnson	....	executive producer
Jordan Leibert	....	producer
John Lind	....	associate producer

Original Music by
James T. Sale

Cinematography by
Philip Lee		(as Phil Lee)

Film Editing by
Joy Zimmerman		(as Joy S. Zimmerman)

Casting by
Dean E. Fronk
Donald Paul Pemrick

Production Design by
Yuda Acco

Art Direction by
Brad Douglas

Set Decoration by
Joseph Fedo

Costume Design by
Erin Farrell

Makeup Department
Silvia Leczel	....	key makeup artist
Kim Perrodin	....	makeup department head

Production Management
Jordan Leibert	....	unit production manager
Tom Shell	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Vito J. Giambalvo	....	second unit director
John Lind	....	first assistant director
Lori Mellman	....	second assistant director

Art Department
David Delvalle	....	set dresser
Chip Mefford	....	property master
Lily Scott	....	scenic artist

Sound Department
David Cook	....	boom operator
Steven Erickson	....	adr editor
Steven Erickson	....	dialogue editor
Jeremy Hoenack	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jeremy Hoenack	....	supervising sound editor
Tony Kucenski	....	foley artist
Noah Southall	....	sound editor
Craig Wood	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Edward Bishop	....	special effects
Bob Gleason	....	special effects crew
Jeff Marsh	....	pyrotechnician
Jeff Marsh	....	special effects supervisor
Chip Mefford	....	special effects crew
Elyse Plantico	....	special effects crew
Nathan Prince	....	special effects assistant

Visual Effects by
David Ellzey	....	visual effects supervisor
Kelly Ellzey	....	visual effects

Stunts
Brad Havens	....	stunt performer (as Brad Haight)
Stephen R. Hudis	....	stunt double: Matthew Ewald
Stephen R. Hudis	....	stunt driver
Steven Leavitt	....	stunt double: Matthew Ewald
Chip Mefford	....	stunt rigger
Dorenda Moore	....	stunt double: Marina Sirtis
Peewee Piemonte	....	stunt double: Michael Nouri
Nick Plantico	....	stunt coordinator
Nathan Prince	....	stunt rigger

Camera and Electrical Department
Ross Addiego	....	dolly grip
Tim Bartlett	....	electrician
Rebecca Bauscher	....	still photographer
Jerry Biron	....	best boy electric
Guus Floor	....	gaffer
Charles Gruet	....	director of photography: second unit
Matt Horochowski	....	best boy grip
Gaylan Andrew Hussain	....	key grip
John C. Jennings	....	first assistant camera (as John Jennings)
Dave McFarland	....	electrician
Tobin Oldach	....	assistant camera: second unit
Quinn Pawlan	....	grip
Adam Peabody	....	key grip: second unit
Bill Pitcher	....	electrician
Megan Schoenbachler	....	grip
David Charles Sullivan	....	gaffer
David Charles Sullivan	....	gaffer: second unit (as David Sullivan)
Wayne Swab	....	electrician
Mariana Sánchez de Antuñano	....	second assistant camera (as Mariana Sanchez)
Erik von Wodtke	....	gaffer: second unit
Chris Waisanen	....	best boy electric
Jeff Warrin	....	grip

Casting Department
Debe Waisman	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sonia Woodfield	....	wardrobe supervisor
Kristi Heckman	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Matthew Ballard	....	transportation coordinator
Tobi Wurth	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Tom Carson	....	production coordinator
Bruce Chudacoff	....	location manager: second unit
Rory Dauson	....	location manager
Rena Hanover	....	production assistant
Lusheia Lenaburg	....	production coordinator
Sandy Schklair	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• PorchLight Entertainment

Distributors

• Be Best in DVD (BBI-DVD) (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• MTI Home Video
• PAX Television (2002) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)

Special Effects

• Action Unlimited

Other Companies

• Sound Trax Studios  sound post-production

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence and peril

Runtime:

UK:90 min | USA:120 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant - 6100 Woodley Avenue, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

PorchLight Entertainment

Goofs:

Factual errors: A computer monitor bursts into flames in the room Brad is trapped in which is filled with Halon. As explained in the movie, Halon is a fire suppressant that displaces oxygen, making such a fire impossible.

Drive-In Monsters of the New Millennium

In the '50s the standard low budget movie monster was some innocent insect enlarged by radiation; today, it's a computer or similar technological device run amuck, often infected with a virus or some such. Neither premise was ever much grounded in science, but at least followed a series of familiar conventions, both with respect to the human and non-human protagonists. "Terminal Error" fits the genre, though, of course, made for the drive-in has succumbed to direct to video or (in this case)made for cable .

That said, this is an ominous enough little film that its ambitious, but ultimately cheesy special effects (thankfully limited to a small screen) and entirely predictable plot don't keep it from being entertaining in the same way those old drive-in films kept you watching.

In brief, a disgruntled employee uses the teenaged son of his ex-boss to infect the company's computers with a virus designed for revenge. Since these computers are widely used as control devices, the area's power grids, elevators, traffic signals, Army missiles are all put in the hands of our evil doer until the virus begins to mutate and turn on humankind in general.

The acting is competent enough, and there is even a bit of witty dialog between the boss and his Stephen Hawking-like associate.

If you don't expect much from this movie and need a monster fix, that's what you'll get, and you probably won't be too disappointed.