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Annihilator

Annihilator (1986) Movie Poster
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USA  •    •  99m  •    •  Directed by: Michael Chapman.  •  Starring: Mark Lindsay Chapman, Susan Blakely, Lisa Blount, Brion James, Earl Boen, Geoffrey Lewis, Catherine Mary Stewart, Nicole Eggert, Paul Brinegar, Barry Pearl, Barbara Townsend, Channing Chase, Glen Vernon.  •  Music by: Udi Harpaz, Sylvester Levay.
        Humanoid killer robots stalk a newspaperman, who has knowledge of their existence. One of the robots is made to look like his girl friend.

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   Length:  Languages:  Subtitles:
 1:31
 
 

Review:

Image from: Annihilator (1986)
Image from: Annihilator (1986)
Image from: Annihilator (1986)
Image from: Annihilator (1986)
Image from: Annihilator (1986)
Image from: Annihilator (1986)
Image from: Annihilator (1986)
I first saw this TV movie on late-night British TV in the late eighties and was thrilled with it's simple, yet effective sci-fi edge; obviously, the film was made for a prospective television series that never happened - Which is a shame as the end result was far better than many of the series' that were approved and syndicated at the time.

Synopsis: Mark Lyndsay Chapman plays Richard Armour, a likable reporter whose life changes after his girlfriend, Angela (Catherine Mary Stewart) returns from a holiday in Hawaii with a female friend (Lisa Blount). Their return sees them change into emotionless cyborgs (like that of Terminator, complete with robotic red eyes under their lifelike human skin masks! In fact, so close is the analogy to "Terminator", that the "Annihilator" also stars Earl Boen (whom played Dr Silberman in both movies!) in a supporting role as fellow reporter, Sid!)).

These cyborgs (or Dynamitards as they are later revealed to be known as) exhibit calculated and unsympathetic views of animals, at one point referring to a dog as being 'One of these lesser animals', before disposing of the poor canine in a dumpster! Angela's lack of 'humanity', soon gives Richard just cause to think that something is up and is easily convinced that a dirty weekend away to a remote log cabin would be the ideal solution to rekindle and reconnect! It is here that Angela reveals her deadly intentions and Richard gets more than he bargained for as he barely escapes with his life and is forced to go on the run...

Richard soon discovers that the Hawaii passenger manifest is something of a Dynamitard 'hit list' and tries to find other passengers in hope of finding answers - And possibly the whereabouts of the real Angela - Before running into more deadly Dynamitards! The film is punctuated with Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes" soundtrack, using this now classic song to great effect as our hero staggers around, disillusioned and helpless; armed with a pump action shotgun, an English accent and some attitude, Richard's quest for the truth is soon accompanied by female friend and convert, Layla (Susan Blakely) as she convinces him to seek additional help and advice from Professor Alan Jeffries (Geoffrey Lewis), with disastrous consequences of betrayal...


Review by kevin_a_hall@btinternet.com from the Internet Movie Database.

 
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