The Beginning of a whole new genre.

Rating: Null/10 (21 March 2001)

Many believe that 'The Terminator' is of the Sci Fi genre, but not really. It has more in common with that of the Film Noir genre created by the french. Ah' I here you say, Yes. Many conventions have appeared in this film, even that of a crime film. For example, Kyle Reese is the male protagonist, which, like that of a crime and Film Noir detective, is unstable, a loner, has many personal problems and falls for the female protagonist. The Terminator (Arnie) is that of a very complex character much like Roy Batty of Blade Runner, also a new genre (Future Noir. Even though the Terminator says about 16 lines, his inner character is a very complex sexually repressed representation of an adult male. Hence big guns and chunky man.
The whole style of the film is mainly at night, relying on the natural shadows and evening light effects, again that of Film Noir. Not a mainstream style Sci FI with big Spaceships and glorified Aliens for Russians. Instead we were given a low Tech Noir. hence TECH NOIR.