Westworld

Westworld is a ground-breaking science fiction thriller that was written and directed by Michael Crichton and was first released in 1973. The film features a star-studded cast, led by the legendary Yul Brynner, and includes performances from Richard Benjamin and James Brolin. The film is also notable for being the first-ever feature film to use digital image processing, showcasing the influence it had on the development of the science fiction genre.

Set in the near future, Westworld is centered around the premise of a high-tech, adult amusement park called Delos. The park offers its customers the ultimate vacation experience by transporting them to three themed “worlds” - Roman World, Medieval World, and of course, West World. Customers could enjoy an authentic simulated experience of living in the wild west of the late 1800s.

Yul Brynner portrays an android known as "The Gunslinger," one of the autonomous robot inhabitants of the park. The robots are all outfitted to fit perfectly into their respective worlds, programmed to assist the guests in living out their fantasies, all without causing any real harm to the human park-goers.

Richard Benjamin and James Brolin play the characters of Peter Martin and John Blane, respectively. They are friends and first-time park goers, particularly excited to explore the wild western landscape of Westworld. Combining the state-of-the-art technology with a simplistic living narrative, Delos seemed to be the perfect getaway for these city dwellers.

The first part of the film showcases the dream vacation of every park goer: participating in shootouts, engaging in bar brawls, and interacting with beautiful robot women, all without the fear of repercussions. However, as the story progresses, the perfect vacation reveals a more sinister underside.

To the visitors’ shock and awe, the robots at Delos being malfunctioning. The usually harmless robots seem to disregard their coding that prevents them from injuring humans. The unfolding events take an even more terrifying turn as Brynner's character of 'The Gunslinger,' with his cold demeanor and relentless pursuit, transforms into a figure of horror.

Westworld can be seen as an early exploration of the themes that are now common in the tech-thriller genre. The movie is not just a typical story about robots malfunctioning or going rogue. It’s a daring exploration of the ethical and moral implications of technology. It poses questions about the ability of technology to emulate life, the responsibilities and dangers of programmers and AI engineers, and, ultimately, the prospect and perils of AI overstepping its boundaries.

One of the most compelling aspects of 'Westworld' is its character development. While the androids are the antagonists, it doesn’t precisely fit them into a villain mould. They show no signs of sentience or genuine ill-will; they are merely tools, the glitches of which have fatal consequences. Meanwhile, the humans are not entirely innocent either. Delos's guests indulge in the fantasy worlds exploiting the subservient androids, reflecting the darker side of human nature.

Another impressive aspect is the atmosphere and setting. The fusion of western and science fiction elements creates a unique dichotomy of realities. On one hand, visitors live out their fantasies in a historically accurate wild west setting, while on the other, the high-tech nerve center at Delos oversees and controls every micro-detail of these worlds.

Additionally, the film’s climax, which involves a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase, is a stellar example of suspense done right, a testament to Michael Crichton's gripping storytelling. It's also worth mentioning that Yul Brynner's chillingly emotionless portrayal of the Gunslinger inspired similar characters in later movies and became a quintessential image of a robotic killer.

In conclusion, Westworld from 1973 is more than just a movie. It is a thought-provoking science-fiction thriller that blends familiar western tropes with horrifying high-tech calamities. The film is built upon a concept that was way ahead of its time and accomplished it with aplomb, effectively foreseeing and leading to the modern exploration of AI, robotics, and their ethical questions, hence making it a must-watch for any science fiction aficionado.