The Terminator franchise is one of the most iconic sci-fi action sagas of all time. Indeed, James Cameron’s bleak futuristic vision has captured hearts and minds for 35 years. And he’s about to do it again.
With Terminator: Dark Fate set to hit theaters on Halloween night, it only seems right to take a look back to where it all began. After-all, James Cameron is not only producing Dark Fate, but it also marks the long-awaited return of Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor. To whet your appetite for the new film, here are 10 hidden details everyone missed in the original Terminator.
A Duplicated Address
The most attentive viewers may have noticed that a key address number appears in two different locations in the film.
First, the gun store building that Kyle Reese enters can be seen marked as address 14329. Secondly, if you look hard enough, you’ll notice that the house of Sarah Anne Connor is also addressed 14329. Not Sarah Connor the heroine (Linda Hamilton), but the mistaken first victim that The Terminator brutally destroys. Talk about number one with a bullet.
A Hydraulic Arm And Hidden Wires
Many hidden technological FX can be found in The Terminator. One instance includes the laser sight on the firearm the Terminator uses. Laser technology at the time was so rudimentary that Schwarzenegger was required to hide a remote battery pack under his sleeve.
Additionally, during the sequence where the Terminator punches through the windshield in the alley, a hydraulic arm was used in place of Schwarzenegger’s. The shot was captured in one take after several rehearsals.
Several Cameos
In addition to the film co-writer, William Wisher, making a cameo appearance as a police officer, James Cameron can also be found in the film. Well, his voice, anyway.
Cameron’s voice can be heard thrice in the film. He speaks twice on Sarah’s answering machine as the manager of the Tiki Motel. Later, when the Terminator calls Sarah, Cameron answers the phone. Also, Cameron’s German Shepherd, Wolfie, can be seen at the Tiki Motel about 15 minutes into the film. Keeping it in the family.
The Tech Noir Nightclub
Through the naming of the pivotal nightclub scene in the film, James Cameron was attempting to coin a new subgenre.
The Terminator first hunts Sarah Connor at a nightclub called Tech Noir. Well, “Tech Noir” is precisely the subgenre of film Cameron set out to make. Citing films like Blade Runner, “Tech Noir” describes movies that fuse elements of classic Film Noir with technological futurism. Cameron built the set himself to make sure the club visually reinforced the “Tech Noir” theme.
Toy And Model Trucks
There are at least two hidden details regarding trucks in The Terminator. First, the same toy semi-truck that the Terminator runs over at the beginning of the film is the same model of semi-truck that runs over him at the end. Talk about going full circle.
Additionally, at around one hour and thirty minutes into the film, the tanker truck that explodes is a fake model, not a real truck. The shot was filmed twice when the axle of the model truck fell off just before the explosion.
The Bug Spray Fog
On The Terminator DVD, an Easter egg can be found by going to the languages section and hitting the right arrow until a square lights up on the righthand side. What does it reveal?
At about an hour and 15 minutes into the film, the heavy fog after Sarah and Kyle flee the bridge is made of bug spray. The spray was applied to rid the swarm of flies threatening the production. However, the visual FX looked so cool that Cameron decided to keep the bug spray and use it as atmospheric fog in the film.
Linda Hamilton’s Broken Ankle
We all know Linda Hamilton is as tough as nails playing Sarah Connor, but how many of you knew she filmed most of the movie with a major injury?
It’s true. Before production began, Hamilton broke her ankle. As a result, her action-packed chase scenes were rescheduled for the end of the shoot. Still, Hamilton’s injury can be spotted in a few scenes as she’s obviously wincing in pain. Of course, the pain makes sense given what the character endures, but Hamilton’s ankle had to be treated every day before filming began.
The Apple ROM Code
How about an analog Easter egg? Have you ever noticed that the Terminator’s POV shots are a function of the Apple II operating system? It’s true. If you look closely during Schwarzenegger’s “Terminator Vision,” you’ll notice the ROM code for the Apple II appear onscreen.
Moreover, if you own an Apple II computer, you can access Terminator Vision by entering the basic command prompt: ] call -151 * p. Always ahead of his time, this means Cameron was hiding Easter eggs way back in 1984, way before the advent of DVDs.
Christian Symbolism
Have you ever noticed the Christian mythology surrounding the Terminator characters? Think about it.
Not only does John Connor share the same initials as Jesus Christ, but like the biblical messiah, he’s also believed to be humanity’s only savior. Furthermore, both John Connor and Jesus Christ were born to women who became pregnant through enigmatic ways. Jesus was born to a virginal mother, while Connor was conceived by a man from the future. If you look closely, scars on Kyle’s back resemble excised angel wings, as if he was sent down from heaven.
“I’ll Come Back”
It may not be an overtly hidden onscreen detail, but the discovery is no less fascinating.
The Terminator’s most infamous catchphrase, “I’ll Be Back,” was originally written as “I’ll Come Back” in the script. Afterward, the script was changed and the line “I Will Be Back” was considered, as Schwarzenegger thought it sounded more robotic. He also thought the contraction “I’ll” was too womanly. An argument ensued between him and Cameron until the director finally got his way. The rest is history.
