Robots are man's creation. In that sense, much of the horror can connect
directly to Frankenstein's monster. Many creators attempt to make the
robots so real that they can perform many functions. These functions are
usually the "dirty" or immoral jobs that humans do not want to perform.
"Pleasure" units can be found in Westworld (1973) and other
movies. Robots that are given too much power overcome the control of
their creators and turn on their human counterparts. Ambition without
concern for morality plays a large part in the terror of the robotic
monster. Isaac Asimov was one science fiction writer in the forefront of
robot lore. In his book I, Robot, he defines laws that should
govern robots:
--Jake Nonis
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1. A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a
human to come to harm.
It is when these laws of robotics are violated that robots become
monsters. They terrorize their creators until their batteries run out or
some higher power takes over.
2. A robot must obey orders given to him by human beings except where
such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection
does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
Metropolis
(1926)
Doctor Satan's Robot (1940) (a.k.a. Mysterious Dr. Satan)
The Day the
Earth Stood Still (1951)
Robot Monster (1953)
Devil Girl from Mars (1954)
Tobor the Great (1954)
Forbidden Planet (1956)
The Invisible Boy (1957)
Kronos (1957)
The Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy (1959)
Planets Against Us (1961)
The Creation of the Humanoids (1962)
The Human Duplicators (1964)
Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1966)
2001: A Space
Odyssey (1968)
How to Make a Doll (1968)
The Astro-Zombies (1969)
THX 1138 (1971)
Silent Running (1972)
Master Minds (1973)
Westworld (1973)
Terminal Man (1974)
Roboman (1975)
Futureworld (1976)
Star Crash (1978)
Terror of Mechagodzilla (1978)
War of the Robots (1978)
The Black Hole (1979)
Blade
Runner (1982)
Android (1982)
Prototype (1983) (Frankenstein adaptation)
Runaway (1984)
Terminator (1984)
Humanoid Defender (1985) (TV)
Planet Busters (1985) (Japanimation)
The Vindicator (1985) (Modernized Frankenstein)
Assassin (1986) - (TV)
Chopping Mall (1986)
Eliminators (1986)
Maximum Overdrive (1986)
Programmed to Kill (1986)
Not Quite Human (1987) (TV)
Robocop (1987)
Robot Holocaust (1987)
Starship (1987)
Light Years (1988) (Animated)
Cyborg (1989)
K-9000 (1989) (TV)
R.o.t.o.r. (1989)
Slipstream (1989)
Attack of the Killer Refrigerator (1990)
Circuitry Man (1990)
Class of 1999 (1990)
Hardware (1990)
Robocop 2 (1990)
Steel and Lace (1990)
Eve of Destruction (1991)
Megaville (1991)
Robocop 3 (1991)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Doctor Who: Cyberman-The Early Years (1992)
Not Quite Human 2 (1992) (TV)
Project: Shadowchaser (1992) (Terminator-like)
Prototype x29a (1992)
Still Not Quite Human (1992)
Cyborg 2 (1993)
Cyborg Cop (1993)
Knights (1993)
Mandroid (1993)
Nemesis (1993)
Robot Wars (1993)
TC 2000 (1993)
Cyborg Soldier (1994)
American Cyborg: Steel Warrior (1994)
A.p.e.x. (1994)
Automatic (1994)
Class of 1999 2: The Substitute (1994)
The Companion (1994) (TV)
Cyber-Tracker (1994)
Digital Man (1994)
Evolver (1994)
Night Siege Project: Shadowchaser 2 (1994)
Plughead Rewired: Circuitry Man 2 (1994)
Robocop the Series: The Future of Law Enforcement (1994)
T-Force (1994)
The Android Affair (1995)
Cyber-Tracker 2 (1995)
Cyberzone (1995)
Cyborg 3: The Recycler (1995)
Heatseeker (1995)
Project: Shadowchaser 3000 (1995)
Suspect Device (1995)
Nemesis 3: Time Lapse (1996)
Screamers (1996)
Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
Project Viper (2002) -- creature of human genes and computer chips runs
rampant.