Frankenstein, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Maximum Overdrive, The Brave Little Toaster
Last Friday's "Today from Public Utilities Fortnightly," summarizing four electricity horror movies, stirred many of you to find more such flicks. Here's four:
Frankenstein (1931)
The first Frankenstein film was a 16-minute picture created in 1910 by Edison Studios. Thomas Edison may have been the producer.
In the legendary 1931 film, scientist Henry Frankenstein and assistant Fritz assemble a human body from parts collected from around their European village. Frankenstein wants to create human life through electrical devices he's "innovated."
Elizabeth, Frankenstein's worried fiancé, arrives just as Henry is finalizing his work. Frankenstein and Fritz raise the body on an operating table, toward an opening at the top of the laboratory. After a crash of thunder, and crackling of Frankenstein's electric machines, the monster's hand begins to move. Frankenstein famously shouts "it's alive."
Readers may have also seen Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and Young Frankenstein (1974). Like some battles over deregulation, about capacity markets for instance, the monster keeps coming back.
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
Klaatu and Helen take an elevator that stops at noon. Klaatu reveals he's a visitor from outer space, and neutralized electricity everywhere except where human safety would be risked (in hospitals, aircraft, etc.). This was before requirements for grid cybersecurity.
Later, Klaatu and Helen emerge from a spaceship. Klaatu tells scientists the people of Earth have a choice. We can join the other planets in peace, but if we're violent in space, "this Earth of yours will be reduced to a burned-out cinder... We shall be waiting for your answer." Tougher even than FERC enforcement.
Maximum Overdrive (1986)
As the Earth passes through the tail of a comet, machines, appliances and devices come to life and become murderers. Humans and pets are brutally killed by lawn mowers, chain saws, hair dryers, pocket radios, etc.
Ex-convict Bill Robinson begins to suspect something is wrong. Big rig trucks run down two victims and trap others inside a truck stop diner. The trucks want to dominate people, honking demands with Morse Code.
Survivors realize they've become enslaved by their own machines. As an off-the-grid advocate might recommend, Robinson wants them to escape to an island where vehicles and machines aren't permitted.
The Brave Little Toaster (1987)
Electric appliances and devices come to life, after pretending to be lifeless in the presence of humans. Five of them (a toaster, lamp, electric blanket, radio, vacuum cleaner) go on a quest to search for their original owner.
Many of you also found, after a "Today from Public Utilities Fortnightly" a couple of weeks ago, more examples of electricity in pop music. See some of your examples in the March issue of Public Utilities Fortnightly on the Off Peak page.
Steve Mitnick, Editor-in-Chief, Public Utilities Fortnightly
E-mail me: mitnick@fortnightly.com
