Re:Visiting … ‘The Terminator’ (1984)

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James Cameron is a Canadian filmmaker whose movies have grossed over $8 billion worldwide, making him one of the most financially successful directors of all time. Films such as Titanic (1997) and Avatar (2009) were just two that broke all sorts of financial records, while Cameron would also be known as an innovator of special FX and groundbreaking cinematic techniques, which he would utilise to bring his extraordinary pictures to life.

Back in the early eighties he was a young writer and director looking to make his name in Hollywood, and his first chance came when he was given the opportunity to direct Piranha Part Two: The Spawning in 1982. As the follow up to one of the most notable Jaws imitators of the late seventies, the sequel was however nothing more than B-Movie schlock. But it did open doors for the ambitious filmmaker, and it would provide him with the chance to get funding with New World Pictures for a Sci-Fi screenplay he had written called; The Terminator.

His concept was simple, yet devastatingly effective. A cyborg is sent back in time from a future decimated by war between man and machine, in order to assassinate the mother of the future leader of the human resistance before he is born. The twist being that the humans’ have also sent back a soldier to the same place and time in order to intercept The Terminator’s mission. A one way ticket with his sole purpose being to save the life of Sarah Connor at any cost.

The movie opens with the barren war-ravaged wastelands of Los Angeles 2029 AD, Human soldiers run for cover from laser fire as we are told – The machines rose from the ashes of the nuclear fire. Their war to exterminate mankind had raged for decades, but the final battle would not be fought in the future. It would be fought here in our present – before a classic industrial souding score and instantly recognisable synth theme opens the credits.

The first name shown in the credits is that of the star forever associated with this classic Sci-Fi / Action flick – Arnold Schwarzenegger. And it is he we meet first as his character appears naked in a back alley under the flash of a lightning bolt. Schwarzenegger is of course The Terminator, the T-800 cyborg killing machine sent back to assassinate Sarah Connor. And his emotionless robotic persona was perfect for Schwarzenegger’s acting credentials at the time.

In 1984, the Austrian body-builder turned actor was really just getting started, with his only notable starring role being the lead in Conan the Barbarian (1982). From a dialogue standpoint, his role as the The Terminator was very much supporting to that of Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton – Children of the Corn), and the soldier sent back to protect her – Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn – Aliens). But it has remained his most iconic character of all, proving to be the role that would catapult him to being the biggest Action-Movie star in the world.

When we first meet Sarah Connor – the character who would rise up to become one of the most iconic movie heroines of all time – she is merely just a mild mannered waitress in a burger joint. Nobody special, or so it would seem. But her world is turned upside down when news reports start flooding the city that a serial killer appears to be targeting women who share her name.

This being 1984, the T-800 merely goes through the local phone book before systematically taking out each Sarah Connor one by one. And the movie certainly has somewhat of a Slasher vibe about it, with the writing of the character taking inspiration from the emotionless killers of that particular Horror sub genre – including Halloween’s Michael Myers and Friday the Thirteenth’s Jason Vorhees.

All the while this happening, we also get to know a little more about Kyle Reese as he readies himself for combat. We see flashbacks (or are they flash forwards!?) to his time fighting in the future war, allowing for Cameron and his FX department to conjure up some mighty fine dystopian cinematography. With some beautiful stop-motion model work, which was highly innovative at the time, and now wonderfully iconic in retrospect.

While the eighties cyber-punk setting of the movie in the present day is now like observing a time capsule. The Terminator absolutely holds up as one of the best Sci-Fi movies of all time, let alone the era. Capturing pure lightning in a bottle as Cameron brings his story to life with iconic imagery, and a fine cast of actors which also includes Lance Henriksen (Aliens / Near Dark), supporting as a detective trying to get a handle on the initial murder spree.

After a highly satisfying set up and introduction to the characters, matters eventually come to a head as the paths of Sarah Conner, the T-800, and Kyle Reese all finally cross in the nightclub Technoir. Reese delivers the classic line – “Come with me if you want to live” – as he desperately leads Sarah Connor away from The Terminator, and its arsenal of firearms.

This is where the action really ramps up with a fantastic sequence which develops into a gunfight between the two time-travellers, and from here the action rarely falters. The story plays out in a quintessential tale of cat and mouse, with Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese on the run as the T-800 pursues them at every turn. Even the sanctuary of a police precinct proves to be no deterrent for the killing machine, in a classic scene which allows him to utter the immortal line of; “I’ll be back!”

At this point The Terminator also becomes somewhat of a road-movie as well as a character drama, as Reese must convince Sarah that both he and the cyborg have travelled back from the future. Explaining that she is destined to become the mother of John Connor – the leader of the human resistance. This is naturally a lot for her to take on board, and she takes a little while to come around to the notion that Reese isn’t just crazy.

But the two grow closer together, eventually falling in love and providing the ultimate time-travel paradox – as it transpires (spoiler!) that Reese himself is the father of John Connor, the friend and leader who had sent him back to protect his mother. Such clever writing from Cameron, in what was a pure masterclass in story-telling from the young filmmaker.

From here, the movie hurtles through to a thoroughly satisfying climax, as Sarah Connor’s character-arc completes alongside the fruition of the story itself. While the lives of the actors and director would drastically change as the film became a bonafide hit. For The Terminator was created on reported budget of around $6.5 million, but would rake in over $75 million in box office returns.

Cameron’s next step would be to direct Aliens (1986), the blockbusting sequel to Ridley Scott’s 1979 Sci-Fi masterpiece, while Schwarzenegger would go onto cement his Action-Movie superstar status in flicks such as Commando (1985), Predator (1987) and Total Recall (1990). Cameron would eventually get the band back together for Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991). Reuniting Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton, alongside Edward Furlong’s portrayal of a teenage John Connor, and Robert Patrick as the all new and improved killing machine – the T-1000.

Judgement Day would gross over $500 million, and the combined success of the two movies would rubber stamp The Terminator as being one of the all time iconic Sci-Fi / Action movie series. To date in 2025, the franchise has seen a further four movies (of varying quality) alongside a TV show, anime series, various video games and comic-book series … and it is a franchise that is likely to just keep on going.

James Cameron continues to make movies, largely focusing on his Avatar series of films. While Schwarzenegger still acts well into his seventies, following a stint of semi-retirement when he took on the role of Californian Governor in the early 2000s. The careers of Linda Hamilton and Michael Biehn may not have quite reached the same giddy heights, but they too will always be synonymous with this vintage genre movie from over forty years ago. KZ