Shocking Dark

CinematographyRichard GrassettiEdited byBruno MatteiMusic byCarlo Maria CordioDistributed byVariety Distribution90 minutesCountryItalyLanguageItalian

Shocking Dark (also known as Terminator II, Terminator 2, Aliens 2, Aliennators, and Contaminator) is a 1989 Italian science-fiction film written by Claudio Fragasso, produced by Franco Gaudenzi and directed by Bruno Mattei.

Although the film was promoted as a rip-off of James Cameron's The Terminator (1984), it is primarily a rip-off of Cameron's subsequent film Aliens (1986). It was released in some countries as Terminator II, as it had been made two years before Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991).

Background

Despite the film's original title and artwork presenting it as a sequel to The Terminator, it is not officially associated with that film. The plot has more in common with Aliens.^[1] Two years after Mattei's film came out, Terminator 2: Judgment Day (the official Terminator sequel) was released. Mattei's film was not released in the United States, especially under its original title due to licensing problems.

Cast

• Cristopher Ahrens as Samuel Fuller
• Haven Tyler as Sara
• Geretta Giancarlo Field as Koster
• Fausto Lombardi (as Tony Lombardo) as Lieutenant Franzini
• Mark Steinborn as Commander Dalton Bond
• Dominica Coulson as Samantha
• Mark Zielinski as Stephano
• Clive Ricke as Drake
• Paul Norman Allen as Kowalsky
• Cortland Reilly as Caine
• Richard Ross as Price
• Bruce McFarland as Parson
• Al McFarland as Raphelson

Release

Up until 2018, the film had never been released on video in the United States for legal reasons. It was released in countries such as Japan, Brazil, and the film's native country Italy.

Severin Films released the film (under its Shocking Dark title) on Blu-ray on 29 May 2018.^[2]

References

External links

• Terminator II at IMDb
• Terminator II at Variety Distribution