looksoverpark Review of Terminal Island

Terminal Island (2004)

A dramatic film rich in sinister harbour atmosphere and exciting action.

[9/10 · 17 September 2005]

This is an exciting and fast-paced movie that kept me interested all the way through. It has an unusual story line in that a terrorist is diverted from his usual mayhem by a beautiful woman. He begins to stalk her without realizing that he himself is being stalked by a bounty-hunter. The film is set in the harbour area of San Pedro and is rich with sinister atmosphere enhanced by use of black and white rather than colour. We have become so spoiled by the use of colour in films and on television we frequently forget how effective the use of black and white film can be in the hands of the right director as it is here in the hands of Jason Apuzzo. Govindini Murty is always interesting and lovely in the role of Sita. She goes through a couple of dramatic crises in the film, getting fed up with both her boring job and boring boyfriend and eventually rejecting both. One would have hoped that there was more of a logical reason for rejecting one or the other (or both)and feel that more of an explanation of these events or reason for them in terms of the total story would have improved the film. The fear that Sita feels when she realizes that she is being stalked is extremely well expressed, however, and the dramatic developments that follow in the moody atmosphere of the San Pedro docks and later in and around Sita's apartment are quite exciting and well done. John Barrett is also very good as the bounty hunter and his actions contribute to enriching the film.