The announcement of Terminator: Dark Fate sent an excited ripple through Terminator fans young and old. The hopes for a refreshed franchise had been dashed when Terminator: Genisys turned out to be, well, terrible. It may have been four years since the ill-fated reboot launched, but for many it feels like only yesterday.
Well, we're here to tell you not to fear. Terminator: Dark Fate does exactly what it was supposed to do and has a lot of fun in the process.
We pick up 25 years after the events of Terminator 2: Judgement Day. Both Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton return as a T-800 and Sarah Connor, but Dark Fate also introduces us to Grace, Dani and the apparently invulnerable new Terminator, Rev 9.
In many ways, Terminator: Dark Fate follows a well-worn path, both within its franchise and also within the 'sequel/reboot' genre. Like The Force Awakens and Creed, Dark Fate brings the old heroes up to speed with new heroes, a mentor-mentee relationship blossoming as they face an evil that rings many bells to the previous generation.
Yet Terminator: Dark Fate also feels fresh in comparison to the previous movies. It doesn't try too hard to be serious and allows its humour to bubble up in natural moments instead of forcing it, with a vein of pathos running deeply through it. There's a huge helping hand from the performances of, well, everyone.
As Dani Ramos, Natalia Reyes brings an earnestness to the reluctant hero role. You can feel her growing pains as she accepts the world she's thrust into. As Grace, Mackenzie Davis brings the perfect balance of human and machine as an augmented human with Terminator-esque powers.
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Even as Rev 9, a role which could have easily been reduced to wooden, two-dimensional evil, Gabriel Luna brings something compelling to his unceasing goal of terminating Dani.
And then, of course, there are Arnie and Linda back together again. Things may have changed, but their crackling on-screen dynamic is made new again when they're put in a new, modern world fighting similar battles once again.
The Terminator franchise has always rested on the shoulders of its 'strong female hero'. But in Dark Fate, the lens is turned back in on itself, examining the nuanced ways you can be a woman with power.
It also examines the notion of what it means to be human, without a ham-fisted commentary on social media (a failing of Genisys). Instead the plot speaks for itself.
But above all else, Terminator: Dark Fate is an action movie. And it's a good one. Its stunts are well choreographed – the fighting styles reflect each character and they all feel distinct. The trailer is just a tease of the prowess of its stars and director Tim Miller.
For those afraid of the running time, it's just shy of being too long. Shifting landscapes help prevent Dark Fate from feeling stale, and when it comes to its end you'll be more than satisfied – excited, even, for the future of the franchise.
Buy a bucket of popcorn: you'll be guzzling it for all two hours and eight minutes as you sit on the edge of your seat, rooting for the good gals to win.
Terminator: Dark Fate is now playing in cinemas in the UK. It's out in cinemas on November 1 in the US.
TriStar Pictures Terminator 2: Judgement Day (Digitally Remastered)
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Gabriella Geisinger is a freelance film critic and journalist, with a focus on J-drama & film, and the Japanese production industry. She was previously Locations Editor at Screen International and Deputy Movies Editor at Digital Spy. Her writing can also befound in Curzon, 1883, and more. A born and raised New Yorker, she loves coffee and the colour black, obviously.
