Image: 20th Century Fox
Futuristic robot assassins were all the rage in the 80s and early 90s with the Terminator and its Judgement Day sequel. Arnold Schwarzenegger managed to maintain his youthful Pumping Iron physique, and true to his mechanical structure he did not seemingly age. CGI preserved the beauty of its sci-fi stars delightfully that way. Crossing between past and present timelines to prevent future leaders from rising and being born, it challenged the idea of self-aware, sentient computers assuming human body hosts before the apocalypse. More models burst onto the scene in later additions, but the premise of trying to control fate or letting time take its natural course remained consistent throughout the franchise. Director Tim Miller of Deadpool fame revisits the events of Judgement Day, with a new twist.
Dark Fate opens abruptly with a scene that overshadows the entirety of Sarah Connor’s mission established in Judgement Day. Before even comprehending what affect this has on fate, we’re thrown to Mexico where Daniella ‘Dani’ Ramos is the next hot pursuit for new Rev-9 model (Gabriel Luna). In a matter of minutes, the doe-eyed woman has lost her whole family and is thrust into the movies just as quickly. Chasing the human and its robotic predator is a new hybrid Grace, (Mackenzie Davis), a soldier turned cyborg from the year 2042. Grace is the intermediary between the human and the malleable, flesh-splitting assassin Rev-9 who terrifying proves that two is better than one when it comes to combat. As they wrestle with the unknown, the feisty stalwart from previous films, Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) hops in and accompanies the crew to cross the border before Skynet tracks them down.
Linda Hamilton is clearly having a lark in this role. Sometimes she bestows her wisdom in a hurried frenzy, chastising her fellow fugitives for using a mobile phone or watching in irritation as her getaway car is stolen. She’s a bird of a woman but bursts onto the scenes guns blazing, with glee. A scene stealer, she’s relegated often to dropping the swears and rolling her eyes as her counterparts cannot always catch up, but she nonetheless provides much comic relief.
Mackenzie Davis has the most compelling backstory, as she weaves between her human limitations and vulnerabilities while bowing to her cyborg soldier duties. Women are at the forefront of this film, and she represents the fledgling determination to keep pressing on while Daniella Ramos drags her feet somewhat. For the supposed future redeemer of humanity, she does not seem very on board with her mission. Arnie reappears eventually, and as model T-800 it is surprising to see that his age has caught up with him even in robot form. He’s all but retired as a merciless killer, and enjoys the quiet life in the woods with his family. Edging towards compassion or at least a slither of remorse, he’s attempting to leave his programmed pysche to kill behind hi. Loaning out his extensive gun collection, the crew prepare for one last showdown that’s akin to dropping the ring in the furnaces of Mordor.
Dark Fate almost retcons the events of Rise of the Machines, Salvation and Genisys, and it operates solidly as a standalone. Whether producer James Cameron and Skydance films intend to make a sequel, they should at least ensure that they continue the arc of the human/artificial intelligence dynamic. It breathes much needed air into a story that escapes continuity issues by revising the timelines at every turn.
But please, don’t make Arnie look as tired as the audience will feel if you make another one.
Verdict: 7/10
20th Century Fox Australia
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