Review of The Terminator (1984) by Rod E — 29 Jan 2013

From the school of science fiction that doesn't need to be over-complicated, The Terminator is near unrivalled in terms of horror sci-fi. James Cameron's Aliens warm up movie is a relentlessly brilliant chase that uses slasher movie conventions to create an intelligent action movie that stand outs from the crowd.

A robot, or Terminator that looks like Arnold Schwarzenegger is sent back in time to kill a woman, Sarah Connor, who will go on to give birth to the leader of the human resistance in an apocalyptic war against the machines. The resistance send back a human protector for Sarah in the form of Michael Biehn. It's a simple premise but one which works wonders in the hands of Cameron.

The Terminator was perfectly cast with regards to its two lead male roles. Schwarzenegger has never played to strength quite so effectively since, as he's usually been in the good guy role but as an unfeeling, monosyllabic cyborg killer, he has arguably never been better. His movements are slow and definite, precise and cold. When it comes to playing robotic, Arnie takes some beating. The portrayal of The Terminator draws parallel with the slasher movie killers that had been popular at the time. There is more than a touch of Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers in the coldness of the character, stalking and killing anyone who gets in their way. This was something which the subsequent Terminator movies lost the feel of but it's quite chilling at times here, combined with the synth heavy score.

Michael Biehn's Kyle Reese is a much slighter character. There's an intense vulnerability to Reese which makes him immediately likeable and a great hero. Biehn is possibly one of the most underrated character actors of the 80s. Linda Hamilton's Sarah Connor gives good helpless victim but her performance isn't a patch on what she would do for Terminator 2 but it suffices here.

The film's action is confined largely to gun fights but the couple of chase sequences that Cameron has crafted are extremely excited. As far as pure tension goes, the final half hour of The Terminator is first class, right up there with the best. The other ace that Cameron plays is giving his audience tantalising teasers of a war torn future which is magnificently detailed. There was a whole other movie waiting to be made here.

The Terminator was a simple film taken to a grand scale. Fusing the elements of sci-fi and horror with an unforgettable villain, it touches on genius and can fairly be called a classic that while it has dated, remains a true great.