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Shocking Dark

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Shocking Dark
Poster for Terminator 2 bears a similarity to the original Terminator poster.
Directed byBruno Mattei
Written byClaudio Fragasso
Produced byFranco Gaudenzi
Starring
CinematographyRichard Grassetti
Edited byBruno Mattei
Music byCarlo Maria Cordio
Production
company
Flora Film
Distributed byVariety Distribution
Release date
  • 1989 (1989)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryItaly
LanguageItalian

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

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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

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  • 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

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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

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  1. ^ "Terminator II: Shocking Dark". BrainEater.com. Archived from the original on 2007-05-03. But what you might not expect is that the bulk of the movie has nothing to do with The Terminator. Instead, it's a rip-off of Cameron's other sci-fi blockbuster, Aliens.
  2. ^ Chris Coffe (May 28, 2018). "Severin Recreates 'Terminator 2' VHS Promo for 'Shocking Dark' Blu-ray Release". Archived from the original on 2018-05-28.
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