Overview

Made on a low budget, The Terminator was one of the most influential films of the 1980s. Combining explosive special effects and an intricate time-travel plot, it set Arnold Schwarzenegger on the road to superstardom and allowed its director, James Cameron, to go on to make some of the most expensive films of all time. The Terminator quickly found a cult following who appreciated its deadpan humour, comic-book violence and elaborate variations on standard science fiction themes. Resolutely populist, accomplished and instantly memorable, The Terminator has dramatically outlived its humble beginnings. Sean French’s insightful study traces the film’s production history, its sources and the extent of its influence. He argues that The Terminator’s visual flair, stylised acting and choreographed violence are so compelling not so much because they offer intellectual rewards but because they traffic in the darker, more visceral pleasures of moviegoing. In his foreword to this new edition, Sean French reflects on Terminator sequels and reboots, suggesting that the original film has more in common with the gritty visions of the New Hollywood than present-day action blockbusters.

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9781839022128

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Sean French was the Deputy Literary Editor at the Sunday Times between 1984-1986, Theatre Critic on Vogue between 1982-1986, Film Critic for Marie Claire between 1989-92 and Columnist for the New Society/New Statesman between 1986-2000. He is the author of biographies of Brigitte Bardot and Patrick Hamilton. In collaboration with his wife Nicci, he writes crime novels under the name Nicci French. He lives in London, UK.

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