This was the first time I've watched The Terminator in over 25 years, and I'm happy to report that it still holds up remarkably well.
Some of the special effects have aged. There are moments where modern audiences might raise an eyebrow, especially if they're used to today's CGI-heavy blockbusters.
But the story?
Not a chance.
The story is still fantastic.
What struck me most on this rewatch was how relentless the film feels. Once it gets going, it barely stops to take a breath. The Terminator is less a character and more a force of nature, constantly hunting Sarah Connor with the sort of determination usually reserved for people trying to get Oasis tickets.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is excellent. He barely says much, but somehow manages to be one of the most memorable villains in cinema history. Every time he appears on screen, you know somebody is about to have a very bad day.
It's also fascinating watching the film knowing what the franchise eventually becomes. The seeds for everything are planted here, but this first film feels much more like a sci-fi horror than the action spectacle that followed.
Nearly 40 years later, it's still tense, entertaining and packed with iconic moments.
Unlike the Terminator himself, this film refuses to die.
5/5
