Simple idea, perfect realization

Rating: 8/10 (13 February 2002)

***MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD***
There's been so much written on the subject of The Terminator, it's difficult to add anything new to the debate.
I'm pretty sure that James Cameron stole the plot and premise of this film directly from my nightmares as a small child. The faceless, huge, unceasing, single-minded, ever-closing thing that used to chase me round my dreams is here on the big screen and he's Arnie. That is all this film is. A classic nightmare, the Jungian ogre archetype made celluloid.
James Cameron has distilled this primal fear perfectly for the screen, the pacing is exquisite. Even as the credits roll you still expect the Terminator to somehow resurrect itself once more and continue its relentless pursuit. It has everything that a good horror flick should have, anticipation, genuine fear and timing. The special effects don't have to be good when you've got film-making as good as this.
This film can be seen as the apprentice piece of James Cameron, the first to spotlight his dark and dystopian future visions best summed up in the name of the nightclub in The Terminator; 'Tech Noir'. This territory is revisited in Aliens, Strange Days, and latterly, Dark Angel. This universe has been inhabited by Ridley Scott among others and perhaps owes something to the Cold War and the nagging fear of nuclear conflict that ran through the 70's and 80's.
This film is renowned as being very violent. It is, however, one of few films where the violence is totally justified by the plot.
A must see for anyone who likes film.