Robocop (1987) – ED 209 Malfunction

Written by Ruari Burgham | Tuesday, March 18, 2008 | Comment on this article | + Share

“Please, Put Down Your Weapon… You Have Twenty Seconds To Comply”

Nothing in this world is more terrifying to us, in this age of internet banking and computer controlled nuclear weapons, than technology going disastrously wrong. Nowhere in film history has this been exemplified in more gratuitous glory than in Verhoeven’s 1987 cult classic ‘Robocop‘.

The scene in question this week, readers, is the infamous ‘ED-209‘ malfunction. ED, a prototype law enforcement robot, instantly makes the viewer unbelievably uncomfortable. He enters the room awkwardly, his gait made all the more disturbing using Ray Harryhausen-esque stop frame animation. By this point, the second-time viewer is starting to feel excited, perhaps a slight increase in heart-rate and exaggerated breathing. The first time viewer has no idea what they’re about to see.

After a brief introduction, a poor, innocent young employee of despotic company OCP is itching to give a demonstration of 209’s law-meting potential. By waving a gun at him.

Instantly, the monstrosity comes to life and this poor man is given only twenty seconds to live. Surely, dropping the gun should cause the machine to stand down? Absolutely not. The hideous ED, apparently deaf, continues to berate the man (the highlight of which is a fiercely delivered lion’s roar) until, when the time is up… Well, you’ll see.

I can’t remember the last time I loved a scene in a film so much. Verhoeven, though by now becoming pretty stale (his recent offerings have been nowhere near the standard of gems like Robocop and Total Recall), showed his latent genius by here employing the most beautifully dark humour imaginable in this scene (watch out for the copiously smoking guns at the end of the clip) to stunning effect. Robocop is well known for its comments on human vs. machine, and nowhere in the film is it so wonderfully portrayed as it is here. Watch the iconic clip here (I warn you, it ain’t for the faint of heart).

PLEASE NOTE THIS VIDEO CLIP IS VERY GRAPHIC AND CONTAINS A LOT OF BLOOD!!