he begins a romantic relationship, is the last of the models to be digitally scanned. During his investigation, Roberts discovers some advanced technology that the Digital Matrix corporation is using to hypnotize consumers into buying the products they advertise. He also discovers a light pulse device, the Light Ocular-Oriented Kinetic Emotive Responses (L.O.O.K.E.R.) gun, that gives the illusion of invisibility by instantly mesmerizing its victims into losing all sense of time. Cast Albert Finney as Dr. Larry Roberts James Coburn as John Reston Susan Dey as Cindy Fairmont Leigh Taylor-Young as Jennifer Long Dorian Harewood as Lieutenant Masters Darryl Hickman as Dr. Jim Belfield Terri Welles as Lisa Convey Terry Kiser as commercial director Production Crichton started thinking about the subject of the film in 1975. He says he went to a Los Angeles computer company to find out how they could create copies in commercials without looking too ridiculous and discovered a company in Texas was already doing it, called tomography. Looker became an early production of The Ladd Company. It was Leigh Taylor-Young's first film in eight years. James Coburn later said "My part was pretty much on the cutting room floor. They really pissed that film away. They had Albert Finney running around in a security guard's uniform throughout the film. It didn’t make any sense. It could have been a good picture. It was about how television controls. It was about how commercials manipulate people to buy products, politicians, whatever. But, they cut the film up for a television print. I don't know why they did that. They spent some bread on the picture too. It was a $12 million production. That’s not much today, but back then it was a pretty big budget." Reception Looker was poorly received by critics, particularly film historian Leonard Maltin: "An intriguing premise is mishandled; the result is illogical and boring. Even Albert Finney cannot save this turkey." The film holds a 32% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 22 reviews. It was not a success at the box office. See also Timeline of CGI in film and television References External links 1981 films 1980s psychological thriller films 1980s science fiction thriller films American psychological thriller films American science fiction thriller films 1981 computer-animated films Films about advertising Films about television Films about modeling Films directed by Michael Crichton Films scored by Barry De Vorzon Films set in Los Angeles