Westworld is far more a prophecy than a Western and time has only bolstered that distinction. I stumbled upon the film’s existence after falling prey to some clickbait while I should have been doing just about anything else. Find Out Arnold Schwartzenaggers All-Time Favourite Film…I had to…it was that or get back to work. I skipped over the first four paragraphs of course which included Arny’s humble beginnings in Austria, the box office blowouts and busts and a few scandals here and there. The clickbait answer generally lies in the second to last paragraph so it’s best to go straight for that, get in and get out. Low and behold it was Westworld, I’d heard of the successful television series but not the film itself which was initially released in 1973.
Directed by novelist Michael Crichton, the film tells the story of an android amusement park in which tourists can come and live out their fantasies in a period piece of their choice. The androids are unmistakable from themselves save for their hands which can reveal that they are robots. The tourists can indulge in every illicit fantasy from sex to murder without guilt or consequence, until they can’t.
Slowly but surely the malfunctions begin to pour in, alarming the one and only scientist in Westworld with a conscience. He makes several attempts to warn the other directors of the amusement park but his attempts to shut things down fall on deaf ears. Eventually it’s too late and the robots become sentient and remember how they have been treated by the tourists of Westworld. A nightmare ensues.
Westworld couldn’t be more poignant today considering the contentious debates currently taking place surrounding A.I., ChatGPT and the like. Somewhere deep down I believe most people know that this is unlikely to end well for our fare race. At best it will eliminate jobs, at worst, who knows? This context made the film all that more of a riveting watch.
The acting was well done, in particular the film’s villain played by Yul Brenner whose character is undoubtedly to prototype for the Terminator. One can see his uncanny influence on Shwartenagger’s later performance. The soundtrack is also worth mentioning as it helps shift the story along in no subtle terms. The first half of the film it’s exclusively Western standards with an almost campy selection however around the midway point one of these songs is blended with some unnerving synth and futuristic sound effects. The two are blended in a way that is less than enjoyable until all country-western sound is eliminated, leaving us with just the futuristic score. There is no coincidence here of course, it is symbolic of the fact that the androids are now in charge.
The practical effects not only aged well but made one long for the days before CGI. There is more mystery into how they pulled off some of the visuals without a computer than there is to some of the most high budget films of today.
The film is also a great genre mix of Western, Sci-Fi and then ultimately Horror that is done without force or suspension of disbelief. Worth a watch and a great conversation piece. If you’re like me and are nervous to take on the whole Westworld television series, get it all in under an hour and a half with this wicked tale.