Name an 80s sci-fi movie about a child android adopted by a family.

April 7, 2009 12:02 AM

I can't get this movie out of my head. I must've seen it sometime in the eighties, as a kid. It's about an android that's indistinguishable from a human child, created by some scientists. It is adopted by a family. I *think* that the family doesn't know that the adopted "child" is an android (if someone knows, it might be the father). One scene I remember has the mom watch the adopted kid/android learn to play the piano, and she is amazed at his natural ability. There is jealousy at some point from the other children in the family since the new kid is so gifted at everything. IIRC, the movie ends with the adopted child being revealed for what it is and taken away. It had a very melancholy feel. For some reason I keep thinking the name of the movie was Damien, or Demian, or Damian, or Demien. But none of those have turned up anything useful so I might be making them up. Thanks!
posted by pantufla_milagrosa to media & arts (11 comments total)

I haven't seen the movie in forever, is it maybe Bicentennial Man? The era and the character name don't jive, but much of the rest does.
posted by Netzapper at 12:06 AM on April 7

D.A.R.Y.L.?
posted by aiko at 12:06 AM on April 7

D.A.R.Y.L. is the movie that you are looking for, I believe.
posted by skewedoracle at 12:07 AM on April 7

Bingo! Thanks.

(I was reading Hesse's Demian sometime around that age too, I think... which would explain my mix-up.)
posted by pantufla_milagrosa at 12:08 AM on April 7

That was the age of robot kids.

I remember D.A.R.Y.L. as well as this unrelated book
that was about a future where you could buy a robot friend
who looked like a real boy:
http://www.amazon.ca/My-Robot-Buddy-Alfred-Slote/dp/0064401650

and then there was that TV show
about that girl robot who was always
in a strange maid outfit: "Small Wonder" it was called.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Wonder_(TV_series)

and every other week it seemed there
was a Disney sunday movie about some robots
disguised as people.

And now we have cylons.
posted by Sully at 12:33 AM on April 7 [2 favorites]

That was the age of robot kids.

Robot grandmothers, too.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 6:17 AM on April 7

DARYL is correct. Funny story about this movie... I picked it out one night from Blockbuster after reading the back which was clearly written by someone who only skimmed the movie, as it mentioned absolutely nothing about the robot aspect. It was entirely about how this boy was really good at videogames, etc., and would win some contest (wtf?) if he could escape from the evil doesnt-want-him-to-win-contest people.
posted by odinsdream at 6:27 AM on April 7

Maybe they just didn't want to spoil the surprise?
posted by box at 6:28 AM on April 7

It sounds like the movie-box writer may have accidentally watched The Wizard instead.

..although D.A.R.Y.L. was sick at Pole Position. Just ask Turtle.
posted by joelhunt at 7:29 AM on April 7

Data Analyzing Robot Youth Lifeform
posted by Roach at 7:46 AM on April 7

Coincidentally, this movie was shot in my neighborhood in Orlando, Fl. My elementary school was in it, the house down the street was a location.
posted by mrmojoflying at 9:18 AM on April 7