Really bad Terminator-style sci-fi clone
An undistinguished attempt at a science fiction thriller, with plot elements borrowed from THE TERMINATOR. This lame entry into the genre is directed by William Mesa, who also made a mess of DNA, another horrendous rip off. The plot, or lack of plot, involves two aliens hunting for a crystal on earth. Yes, it's as silly as it sounds, with scenes such as the police station being attacked borrowed directly from THE TERMINATOR. Ludicrous in the extreme, this hokum actually thinks its good as scene after unoriginal scene is paraded out in front of the audience.The characters are all clichéd and one-dimensional, from the stultifying human lead to the black policeman who just misses the action, to the main baddie Kyler who tries to look menacing but just comes across as an old man with a chip on his shoulder. Brigitte Nielsen proves again that she simply cannot act, and the hype of her appearing in a leather outfit is just over the top, it's nothing to write home about. Supporting actors are wasted in minor roles, with Craig Fairbrass who has a certain cult appeal appearing as a tough lieutenant of the army who gets killed in the opening scene. As does Sam Raimi, making a welcome but all far too brief cameo appearance, apparently feeling nostalgic about his low budget roots.
The special effects are also extraordinarily bad. The explosions are the best things but even they are unrealistic, mainly superimposed over the top of the film. At one point, a police car explodes, only for the car to appear momentarily undamaged for a second after the explosion has ended! Childish laser guns are used, as well as that bad 'electricity' effect used in everything from RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD PART 2 to FRANKENHOOKER. There is some interesting stop-motion work in the form of a killer robot which looks strangely like the robot droids in THE PHANTOM MENACE to liven things up; it looks tacky to the extreme but it's a welcome relief from the standard computer effects of today's films. There are some brief flashes of gore too, but as this is a 15 certificate (PG-13) film, don't expect too much violence - it's mainly off screen. TERMINAL FORCE is a below average B movie, with a few factors making it rise above complete obscurity. Watch it if you're a fan of bad straight-to-video science fiction.
score 2/10
Leofwine_draca 9 November 2016
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw3577540/34879
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