Terminus (I) (2007) User Reviews

Watch it twice.

[threeJane · 9/10 · 15 September 2008]

This film is a family favourite. Even though it's quite scary, and a little violent, my three-year-old is happy to watch it multiple times, from the safety of Mum or Dad's lap. Even on days when we don't watch it, she is comforted that 'monsters' can only go at walking pace, and you can always outrun them, if need be (this is confirmed by the monsters on *Doctor Who*). I think my young daughter continues to watch *Terminus* because she wants to understand the dream scene.

For myself, the 'monsters' in this film remind me of Mr Pump, the golem in Terry Pratchett's novel *Going Postal*. Golems can only go at walking pace, but they can go forever, without eating or sleeping, and they will catch you. For my partner, they remind him of 'machine spirits' in the role-playing game *Shadow Run*.

There are a couple of reasons to watch this short film twice: Certain motifs reappear, allowing you to have a go at working at why these 'machine spirits' are taking over the city. Also, the title of the movie gains added meaning, as you speculate on what happened to the concrete pillar monster's previous subject, and what the title actually refers to.

Dark & Beautiful

[ShortoftheWeek · 9/10 · 22 January 2008]

Terminus (Latin for "boundary stone") is a dark comedy about the self-destructive nature of the human mind and the dangers of urban isolation. In this film, a colossus made of concrete pilings follows a lonely man throughout the city tormenting him as he goes about his daily life on the subway, at the doctor's office, and elsewhere. All the while, a strong, foreboding sense of mental anxiety builds as the man is ultimately driven to extreme ends.

I caught up with Trevor (a Canadian filmmaker and recipient of many visual effects distinctions including 2 Emmy nominations) to ask him some questions about the film…

Read this and other online film reviews at my favorite site, ShortoftheWeek.com

the other

[Kirpianuscus · 21 December 2018]

So many interpretations for the concrete being and for its mates. The loneliness, the pressure of society, the projection of anxiety, the selfishness or schizoidy. Important - it is a beautiful short film. Well crafted, proposing a precise message, using some humor and a poetry of empty spaces. Golem, guardian, friends, double, shadow. Only its presence defined it as a part of each life. So, an admirable work.

Collection of oddities

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 22 February 2016]

"Terminus" is a Canadian 8-minute short film from almost 10 years ago. it was written and directed by Trevor Cawood. We follow a man who obviously has a strange disorder because he sees a big robot-like creature that harasses him and, from that moment in the subway station on, keeps following him everywhere. But it seems nobody else can see the creature. 3 minutes in, Cawood was probably scared of this becoming too repetitive and that's why he included other weird occurrences happen. As a whole, I must say I was not too entertained watching this one. It wasn't bad by any means, but something is missing here to let me recommend it. I felt it's not really telling a story. Maybe that's it. Anyway, I personally do not recommend the watch. Thumbs down.