“I’ll be back.” —The Terminator
Today’s quick review: The Terminator. Los Angeles turns into a battleground when the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger), an unstoppable cyborg with a human exterior, arrives from the future to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), an ordinary waitress with an extraordinary destiny. Her only chance of survival is to go with Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), a soldier sent from the future, and try to stay one step ahead of a killer that never gets tired.
The Terminator is a sci-fi action movie written and directed by James Cameron. The plot centers around Sarah Connor, an ordinary young woman who holds the key to humanity’s survival in a dystopian future ruled by machines. The Terminator sits at the intersection of some of the best features of the sci-fi genre. Technological speculation, an intricate plot, cutting-edge special effects, and raw action make The Terminator a satisfying watch.
The Terminator gets a lot of mileage out of its premise. The setup seems simple enough at first, with Reese on one side and the Terminator on the other in the battle for Sarah’s life. But soon enough, the story develops wrinkles. The mechanics of the Terminator’s hunt, Sarah’s gradual introduction to the danger she’s in, and the complications of time travel all work in the movie’s favor, helping to fill out a complete and interesting story.
The other core strength of The Terminator is its villain. The Terminator makes for an imposing and inhuman foe, pursuing its target with a mix of brute force and subterfuge. The design of the character stands the test of time, a terrifying endoskeleton layered with cold, disposable human flesh. The special effects are rough by modern standards, but they are impressive for their era and are still enough to do the Terminator justice as a villain.
The Terminator is a must-see for fans of the science fiction genre and a strong pick for action fans in general. There are movies that outclass it in terms of plot, action, and scope, but its memorable premise and rock-solid execution secure it a place as one of the classics of the genre. For its more action-oriented sequel, try Terminator 2: Judgment Day. For a lower-stakes clash with a humanlike robot, try Westworld.
8.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for strong fundamentals and an iconic villain.