History NightmareFuel / TheTerminator

* The scene where Sarah is talking to her mother, before it's revealed that it's actually [[spoiler:[[ParanoiaFuel the Terminator using the mother's voice]]]]!

** The buildup to the reveal is also unsettling, as you see [[spoiled: increasing signs that there was some sort of struggle at her mother's house]].

* And now the context behind the page image: after the Terminator is run over by a truck, he is left with a limp, optical damage and even more flesh wounds. He then proceeds to incapacitate the driver and get into the truck...and then slowly turns over to the passenger and says the iconic line. The passenger not only obliges, he ''runs out of the truck as fast as he can.'' And keep in mind: this is the kindest thing the Terminator has done in the film, apart from [[PetTheDog not killing dogs]].

** So Kyle just threw a pipe bomb in a tanker, and it causes a chain reaction that consumes the Terminator in a giant fireball. Sure it must be dead right? You'd think so since it stumbles out of the truck, wreathed in flames that melt its skin right off its endoskeleton, and despite its attempts to fight through the flames, it just collapses. There's no real sense of relief or satisfaction that comes seeing this thing seemingly die. The music sounds like the demonic love child of {{Satan}} and the end of the world, as you see this metal demon wade through flames. And then on top of that, it gives a menacing DeathGlare at Sarah as it's lying down on the ground, turning its exposed skull in Sarah's direction as flames come out of its mouth. That this still fails to kill the Terminator just makes the situation worse.

* The mere fact that the Terminator is seemingly unstoppable. True to Kyle's description, it looks like nothing they do will stop it. Shotgun blast that knocks it over? It takes a few seconds to get back up. Get it into a traffic wreck? It repairs itself and goes right back to the chase. Run it over with a truck then blow the hell out of it? It stands back up, motors damaged beyond repair and flesh destroyed. Even blow off its entirely lower body? It reactivates the second you are within its reach to possibly the most nerve shattering JumpScare in history, as it slithers over Kyle's corpse like a gleaming metal scorpion to strangle the life out of Sarah with what little remains of its shattered form.

* The mere fact that the Terminator is seemingly unstoppable. True to Kyle's description, it looks like nothing they do will stop it. Shotgun blast that knocks it over? It takes a few seconds to get back up. Get it into a traffic wreck? It repairs itself and goes right back to the chase. Run it over with a truck then blow the hell out of it? It stands back up, motors damaged beyond repair and flesh destroyed. Even blow off its entirely lower body? It only shuts off for a moment before crawling after you. There's even a ScareChord that accompanies the startling moment Sarah realizes it's STILL functioning after it's blown in half!

* The fleshless, tissue-less [[UncannyValley metallic skeleton]] of the Terminator (with glowing red pupils) "rising like Death rendered in metal from the fires" of a burning wreck. Creator/JamesCameron had a nightmare that ''inspired'' the entire franchise. It's even the NightmareFuel's trope picture for goodness sake. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KeniFoiT-0 Here]], for nostalgia...
** So Kyle just threw a pipe bomb in a tanker, and it causes a chain reaction that consumes the Terminator in a giant fire ball. Sure it must be dead right? You'd think so since it stumbles out of the truck, wreathed in flames that melt its skin right off its endoskeleton, and despite its attempts to fight through the flames it just collapses. There's no real sense of relief or satisfaction that comes seeing this thing seemingly die. The music sounds like the demonic love child of Satan and the end of the world, as you see this metal demon wade through flames. And then on top of that it gives a menacing death glare at Sarah as it is lying down on the ground, turning its exposed skull in Sarah's direction as flames come out of its mouth. That this still fails to kill the Terminator just makes the situation worse.
* The scene where Sarah is talking to her mother, before it's revealed that it's actually [[spoiler: [[ParanoiaFuel the Terminator using the mother's voice]]]]!
* Before Sarah Connor's dream in Terminator 2 stole the spotlight as the reigning king of NightmareFuel in the series, the future war scenes from the first film filled that role. [[SceneryGorn These scenes featured a destroyed cityscape washed with blue moonlight, and massive tower-like tanks rolling over human skulls scattered around like debris.]] Later on comes Kyle Reese's flashback of a Terminator attack on a base of LaResistance. The door guards let a group of refugees into the shelter, when suddenly one of them throws up his garments to reveal a massive gun. Before anyone can react, the cyborg opens fire on the soldiers, as well as on women, children and the guard dogs. Kyle attempts to fight back, but an explosion knocks him to the ground, sending his photograph of Sarah Connor into the inferno. As he watches it burn, he gazes up to see the silhouette of the Terminator, [[RedEyesTakeWarning eyes burning fiendishly red]] as it continues methodically gunning people down.

-->'''Kyle:''' Now '''''listen'''''...! And '''understand'''... That ''Terminator'' is ''out there''! It can't be ''bargained'' with, it can't be ''reasoned'' with... It doesn't feel ''"pity"'', or ''"remorse"'', or ''"fear"''! And it absolutely ''will not stop'', '''''ever''''', until you are '''''dead'''''!
** The scene in Tech Noir really drives home what makes the Terminator such a nightmarish adversary, even before Kyle delivers his speech. Sarah has just called the cops to tell them someone is following her, and Ed Traxler gives her advice and reassurances (that if she stays in a public place where lots of people can see her, no-one can hurt her) that would, under normal circumstances, be very reasonable. However the Terminator doesn't care about witnesses. It doesn't care about collateral damage or innocent civilians. It doesn't care about consequences. It exists for one purpose and one purpose ''only-'' to find its target and ''terminate them.'' Everything else is meaningless. If it sees you, it will try to kill you, right in the middle of a crowded room. '''''[[ParanoiaFuel Nowhere]]'' [[ParanoiaFuel is safe while it's still walking around.]]'''

** I've always found Reese's rant to the police officers to be disturbing:
--> "You still don't get it. He'll find her. That's what he does. That's ''all'' he does! You can't stop him! He'll wade through you, reach down her throat and ''[[AndShowItToYou pull her fucking heart out!]]''"
* The two scenes of the Terminator tending to its battle injuries after Reese and Sarah are taken into police custody.

** Then, staring into a mirror, it confirms that one organic eye has been badly damaged by the car crash. So, mildly, it takes up a scalpel and ''[[EyeScream gouges the eye out]]'', dropping it into the sink full of blood-tainted water. We then get a nice close up of the hellish, burning red cybernetic lens in the now-exposed socket. The Terminator looks itself over impassively, then [[SunglassesAtNight reaches for a set of sunglasses to cover it up]]. It almost seems to preen itself before judging the disguise acceptable, then grabs its shotgun and assault rifle and heads off to the police station.
* A very subtle detail occurs as the film progresses. Although the Terminator is not fully destroyed until the end, it takes moderate damage over the course of the film; its flesh coating is slowly injured, and its endoskeleton also receives minor damage. Slowly but surely, [[BodyHorror it accumulates a collection of injuries and scars that slowly deform it, making it look ever more menacing as time passes]]. It is especially noticeable at the climax, when it has been reduced to (half) a metal skeleton -- [[ImplacableMan and yet still continues to pursue its prey]].
* Of all the films in the series, this one feels like a genuine horror film. The Terminator's relentless attacks are made even more terrifying by the fact that the protector is just a man, not another Terminator. The movie starts with a strong SerialKiller vibe, and the entire thing is basically part SlasherMovie. One of the last scenes is the Terminator, now with its legs blown off, crawling towards Sarah with one last attempt to kill her. Even when being crushed, it makes a last ditch effort to strangle her.

* The scene where Sarah is talking to her mother, before it's revealed that it's actually [[spoiler: the Terminator using the mother's voice]]!

** The scene in Tech Noir really drives home what makes the Terminator such a nightmarish adversary, even before Kyle delivers his speech. Sarah has just called the cops to tell them someone is following her, and Ed Traxler gives her advice and reassurances (that if she stays in a public place where lots of people can see her, no-one can hurt her) that would, under normal circumstances, be very reasonable. However the Terminator doesn't care about witnesses. It doesn't care about collateral damage or innocent civilians. It doesn't care about consequences. It exists for one purpose and one purpose ''only-'' to find its target and ''terminate them.'' Everything else is meaningless. If it sees you, it will try to kill you, right in the middle of a crowded room. '''[[ParanoiaFuel Nowhere is safe while it's still walking around.]]'''
* The beginning of the first movie, where T-800 gets into an unintentional fight with several thugs. One of them stabs the cyborg, and in response, he ''[[AndShowItToYou rips the thug's heart out]]'', [[AfraidofBlood covering his left arm with blood]]. The surviving thug, knowing that he is next, decides to do what he is told, giving his clothes to him.

* The T-800's rampage through the police station. It really drives home how unstoppable this thing is, especially when the police break out the big guns and still get mowed down like grass. Arguably the most chilling element of this is how strongly the destroyed police station resembles the massacred human bunker in Reese's future vision, almost as if the Terminator were remaking the past in the image of its present.

** Then, staring into a mirror, it confirms that one organic eye has been badly damaged by the car crash. So, mildly, it takes up a scalpel and ''[[EyeScream gouges the eye out]]'', dropping it into the sink full of blood-tainted water. We then get a nice close up of the hellish, burning red cybernetic lens in the now-exposed socket. The Terminator looks itself over impassively, then [[SunglassesAtNight reaches for a set of sunglasses to cover it up]]. It almost seems to preen itself before judging the disguise acceptable, then grabs it shotgun and assault rifle and heads off to the police station.

* The mere fact that the Terminator is seemingly unstoppable. True to Kyle's description, it looks like nothing they do will stop it. Shotgun blast that knocks it over? It takes a few seconds to get back up. Get it into a traffic wreck? It repairs itself and goes right back to the chase. Run it over with a truck then blow the hell out of it? It stands back up, motors damaged beyond repair and flesh destroyed. Even blow off its entirely lower body? It only shuts off for a moment before crawling after you. There's even a [[ScareChord Scare Chord]] that accompanies the startling moment Sarah realizes it's STILL functioning after it's blown in half!

* The fleshless, tissue-less [[UncannyValley metallic skeleton]] of the Terminator (with glowing red pupils) "rising like Death rendered in metal from the fires" of a burning wreck. Creator/JamesCameron had a nightmare that ''inspired'' the entire franchise. It's even the trope picture for goodness sake.

-->"Now '''''listen'''''...! And '''understand'''... That ''Terminator'' is ''out there''! It can't be ''bargained'' with, it can't be ''reasoned'' with... It doesn't feel ''"pity"'', or ''"remorse"'', or ''"fear"''! And it absolutely ''will not stop'', '''''ever''''', until you are '''''dead'''''!" - Kyle Reese, to Sarah Connor.

* The fleshless, tissue-less [[UncannyValley metallic skeleton]] of the Terminator "rising like Death rendered in metal from the fires" of a burning wreck. Creator/JamesCameron had a nightmare that ''inspired'' the entire franchise. It's even the trope picture for God's sake.

* The fleshless skeleton of the Terminator "rising like Death rendered in metal from the fires" of a burning wreck. Creator/JamesCameron had a nightmare that ''inspired'' the entire franchise. It's even the trope picture for God's sake.

* The fact that Reese is not even remotely joking, exaggerating, or lying when he says that a Terminator will never ever ''ever'' '''ever''' '''''ever''''' '''''EVER''''' stop trying to kill you. No matter how badly damaged it is, it will not falter; no matter how many times you escape, it will not give up; no matter how many times you put it down, it will not despair. From its creation to its utter destruction, that thing is your ''death''.
-->"It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead."

* The fleshless skeleton of the terminator "rising like Death rendered in metal from the fires" of a burning wreck. Creator/JamesCameron had a nightmare that ''inspired'' the entire franchise. It's even the trope picture for God's sake.

* Before Sarah Connor's dream in Terminator 2 stole the spotlight as the reigning king of NightmareFuel in the series, the future war scenes from the first film filled that role. [[SceneryGorn These scenes featured a destroyed cityscape washed with blue moonlight, and massive tower-like tanks rolling over human skulls scattered around like debris.]] Later on comes Kyle Reese's flashback of a terminator attack on a base of LaResistance. The door guards let a group of refugees into the shelter, when suddenly one of them throws up his garments to reveal a massive gun. Before anyone can react, the cyborg opens fire on the soldiers, as well as on women, children and the guard dogs. Kyle attempts to fight back, but an explosion knocks him to the ground, sending his photograph of Sarah Connor into the inferno. As he watches it burn, he gazes up to see the silhouette of the terminator, [[RedEyesTakeWarning eyes burning fiendishly red]] as it continues methodically gunning people down.

* A very subtle detail occurs as the film progresses. Although the terminator is not fully destroyed until the end, it takes moderate damage over the course of the film; its flesh coating is slowly injured, and its endoskeleton also receives minor damage. Slowly but surely, [[BodyHorror it accumulates a collection of injuries and scars that slowly deform it, making it look ever more menacing as time passes]]. It is especially noticeable at the climax, when it has been reduced to (half) a metal skeleton -- [[ImplacableMan and yet still continues to pursue its prey]].

* A very subtle detail occurs as the film progresses. Although the terminator is not fully destroyed until the end, it takes moderate damage over the course of the film; its flesh coating is slowly injured, and its endoskeleton also receives minor damage. Slowly but surely, it accumulates a collection of injuries and scars that slowly deform it, making it look ever more menacing as time passes. It is especially noticeable at the climax, when it has been reduced to (half) a metal skeleton -- [[ImplacableMan and yet still continues to pursue its prey]].

* The T-800's rampage through the police station. It really drives home how unstoppable this thing is, especially when the police break out the big guns and still get mowed down like grass. Arguably the most chilling element of this is how strongly the police station soon comes to resemble the massacred human bunker in Reese's future vision, almost as if the Terminator was remaking the past in the image of its own present.

* The T-800's rampage through the police station. It really drives home how unstoppable this thing is, especially when the police break out the big guns and still get mowed down like grass.