Terminator: Dark Fate
TERMINATOR: DARK FATE - Paramount Pictures + 20th Century Fox
Terminator: Dark Fate, helmed by Deadpool director Tim Miller, is the sixth installment in the long-running franchise and undeniably the strongest entry into the series since 1991. It is no coincidence that Miller's film is the strongest exploit in almost thirty years, with the involvement of franchise creator James Cameron onboard as an involved producer and the inclusion of iconic and immortal presence of series character Sarah Connor played by Linda Hamilton, returning to the fold once again after a three-decade absence.
Miller's Terminator: Dark Fate is a solid entry all round and one that does not particularly shape itself in any other distinctive or unique direction compared to each predecessor before it. So much so, it is quite staggering how each forerunner instalment has failed to capitalise on this dystopian world with each feature replaying the same events to an uninspiring result. There is nothing new or overly fresh found here, an element that acts both as a blessing and a curse for the film overall. Think along the lines of J.J. Abrams and Kathleen Kennedy's safe but assured return to the Star Wars franchise with The Force Awakens, and you are on the right track.
It does disappoint slightly that with such a colossal world of unlimited potential regarding multiple timelines and characters that the writers fall down the same rabbit hole of plot beats and twists. The result is a rather unsurprising and flat film regarding suspense that rarely provokes tension. That being said, there have been three films since the immortal genre-defining sequel that is T2: Judgement Day — each film rated PG-13 — with Cameron pathetically acknowledging each as a true sequel, leading to grave disappointment and critical annihilation. It is fair to say that at this point, just a generally reliable and entertaining action flick would suffice, and Terminator: Dark Fate is just that. Nothing more and nothing less.
The action spectacle is pleasantly surprising. It is often infrequent but, when developing on-screen, is genuinely engulfing and incredibly loud-and-proud of itself. Taking place more in the present than it does of the lazor-gun-future. A feat that most, if not all, Terminator films have failed to really delve and explore sufficiently — or even properly — and Dark Fate falls into that same bracket but works far better this time around. Miller's film sits fine on its own, just running and gunning without much over-complication. A notable set piece on board an aircraft is one to truly behold and one that when it begins acts as a thirty-minute climax to glorious, over-the-top effect; the less action works for the better. The film is never overstuffed or too long, and Terminator: Dark Fate acts more so as a character piece than anything else — with a perfect balance struck to examine both the new and the old guard.
Hamilton slips into Sarah Connor like an old glove, the fiery charisma and self-sufficient nature that boils away with emotional anguish and torment. It is an intelligent and evidently painful evolution of a character that was bookended perfectly the last time audiences saw her. Sarah Connor's trajectory has changed, and Hamilton provides a more complex and tortured performance that is provided with expert skill and range. Arnold Schwarzenegger's performance is equally as similar regarding growth and trajectory. His now fifth performance as the titular character would have many worried on the front of originality, but the actor — along with writers Billy Ray, David S. Goyer and Justin Rhodes — has devised something quite special regarding said character in a performance that is the most human yet.
Newcomer Mackenzie Davis puts forward quite the spectacular performance as Grace. The physicality Davis brings is terrific, but the emotional range is even more so outstanding. Compelling and captivating when the scene demands it but providIng marvellous comedic relief, finding a perfect balance of tone in the meantime to slow the feature down for subtle character moments but also add that all-important engagement with relatable, authentic characters. The twenty nineteen renditions of Sarah and John Connor, played by Natalia Reyes, puts forward a terrific spin on the relatively exhausted archetype franchise character. What separates this performance from the norm is that the writing team have implemented subtle and graceful social relevancy regarding ethnicity and race — elements that not only add a significant amount of weight but tremendous volume of immersion and the relationship between audience and events.
Terminator: Dark Fate is released October 23, 2019.
