Episode 124: Episode 124 - The Terminator (1984).

On Episode 124 of The Film ‘89 Podcast, Steve, Neil and Skye return to the films of James Cameron and his directorial debut (not counting Piranha 2), starring possibly the most prominent megastar of their childhood, Arnold Schwarzenegger. That film is Cameron’s gritty, action-science-fiction smash hit, The Terminator, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this month. The product of a fever dream Cameron had whilst in Rome during the Piranha 2 debacle, The Terminator represents one of the most cost effective filmmaking endeavours of the 1980s, whereby a potentially pulpy science fiction yarn was bolstered by some truly defining star turns, none more so than the titular character himself. Schwarzenegger’s portrayal of a killer cyborg from the future would define his career like no other role. Coupled with precise filmmaking from a young, driven, perfectionist director, some stunning effects work from artists such as Stan Winston, a stunning, synth-filled, percussive and atmospheric score from composer Brad Fiedel, and some gorgeous cinematography and tight editing, these ingredients would come together to create a film that the Film ‘89 team regard as one of the most important films of their upbringing, one that holds up today as a true masterpiece of genre filmmaking.