The Terminator (1984)

9 / 10.  A fantastically dark, sci-fi / horror time travel classic *MINOR SPOILERS*

The Terminator is a fantastically dark, sci-fi / horror time travel film, released in 1984 and directed by James Cameron. This classic film was ground-breaking and genre changing, with exceptional special effects for its time. The screenplay was written by Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd, with additional dialogue from William Wisher Jr.

In Los Angeles, 1984, a cybernetic assassin, known as a Terminator, arrives from 2029 with a deadly mission. Skynet, a sentient and hostile Artificial Intelligence defence network, which has eradicated mankind in the post-apocalyptic future, have launched this Terminator back through time to stop the human resistance before it begins …

1984 doesn’t realise it’s on the brink of a troublesome IT system apocalypse and aren’t prepared for the Terminator’s arrival. The Terminator, a Cyberdyne Systems Model 101, is a relentless killing machine combining a powerful metal endoskeleton covered with an external layer of living tissue, that gives a realistic human appearance. It’s entrance, naked in a ball of light, walking over to accosting some punks, actual punks, for their clothes is one of many memorable scenes. Meanwhile, Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), a human soldier also sent back in time from 2029, arrives in a similar, albeit less graceful way.

A shoot-out ensues at the the amazing Technoir nightclub where where the Terminator and Reece converge, and you don’t know friend from foe, which is where the mind-bending fun really starts with crazy computer network Skynet’s wiping out of humanity via nuclear holocaust and paradoxical time travel events. 

The casting of Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator was inspired, at the time he was unknown as an actor but an Austrian bodybuilding beast of a man, whose size added to the intimidating Terminator persona. He completed this persona with effective robotic head, eye and body movements, and his now iconic, unmistakeable voice and still oft quoted lines.

Many 1980s horror films are still entertaining, but some have a lost a bit of their impact due to dated effects and dialogue. The soundtrack is very 1980s, but the film is very dark and its creepy moments still work, mostly delivered by the Terminator as an unstoppable terror, leading to a nail-biting finale revealing his endoskeleton without the skin birthday suit, leading to a further paradox…

The Terminator was my first foray into the world of baffling time travel logic, followed swiftly by Back to the Future and its questionable time travelling love story.

The film sees Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) begin her incredible transformation from waitress to warrior which culminates in the excellent sequel, Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991).

There’s a degree of nostalgic fondness in my love for many 80s films including this one, juust go with it and enjoy this dark sci-fi spectacle. It makes sense, but also absolutely doesn’t.

“The future has not been written. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves.”