Opiniones de usuarios

Dated 1980's shlock, except for one brilliant throwaway scene near the end.

I wouldn't recommend buying the VHS, and pretty sure this never made it to DVD or Blu Ray, but with a little digging you can probably find it on YouTube. Be ready to skip forward to this scene (a little less than an hour and a half into the movie) if you don't find the movie watchable.

A momentary nice touch, completely unnecessary to the story or plot.

A malfunctioning android. The WAY it malfunctions is nothing short of genius!

It's only a couple of minutes, midway into the climax. I don't want to spoil with any more detail. All I can say is that 30-odd years later, it's every bit as good as I remember.

In watching this film, I never got the sense they were aliens. The constant shots of churches and crosses made me think of something else. They called themselves Dynamitards. (This was an actual 1800s secret society in Europe.) I would have loved a sequel. Or maybe a look at the original script. I did wonder why the Dynamitards would leave an assault rifle and ammo laying around at their camp. Especially since they'd already bent the barrel on his handgun while he was away from his room. The film isn't available on DVD, which would be great. I think "Otherworld" is available in a boxed set (another fantasy series from the same producer).

This movie was a series pilot that was not picked up by the network.

It was not bad, but parts of it were a bit corny as some have pointed out.

As for the Ashes to Ashes segment with the music, this was in the era of MTV back in the days when they actually aired music videos 24/7. This scene was sort of a music video within a movie. Since I liked the song, I didn't mind it.

The basic concept had and still has alot of potential. Considering most sci-fi today is largely rip offs of Star Trek, something like this would be a nice change of pace. There was a kind of creepiness to it that the androids were so lifelike that most people would never know who was real along with the mystery of who or what was really behind the replacement of humans.

I would have to rate it an 9/10 for concept, but 7/10 for execution. This might be an idea for the Sci-Fi channel to pick up now since they did not exist 15 years ago.

Well, in Finland this movie is oddly called Executor, though that isn't a Finnish word. So, this tv-movie is very bad. The scenes are made very poorly and some scenes are so funny, especially when one female robot takes her hand and starts to beat with it. The scene where David Bowie's "Ashes to ashes" plays, the angel wings come on the the lead character, that scene is so stupid! I would give this * star out of **** (1 out of 10).

I watched "Annihilator" a few months ago and although its strange and unpredictable, enough happened to make me continue watching it till the end. Its quite a good movie and a clever idea although where they got the idea from is clear to see with the dinamatard robots having red eyes just like in the classic movie "The Terminator".

Overall, I would recommend this movie to anyone.

Enjoyable, rating 7/10.

"Annihilator" is an unsold TV-pilot, meaning it was made and meant to pitch the concept idea for a longer running television series, in the hope some network would pick it up for further elaboration and distribution. The "unsold" refers to the fact it wasn't apparently able to persuade anyone.

Somebody please explain... With all the rubbish we see on television these days, but also during the 1980s and 1990s as well, why didn't a surprisingly good and more than competently made Sci-Fi/action pilot like "Annihilator" make it to cable?!? Admittedly, it steals a few elements from "The Terminator" (but not nearly as blatantly as other contemporary B-movies) and the middle-section somewhat drags boringly, but so what? The premise is effectively intriguing and there are several great sequences full of intense action and impressive special effects.

The film opens with a more than five minutes lasting car chase through city streets. Granted, it will not be the most exhilarating chase you'll ever witness, but it's a promising start nonetheless. The police chases newspaper editor Richard Armour, who narrowly escapes with the help of a friendly woman who not only rescues him, but also provides shelter in her apartment without asking any questions. To her, Richard explains that he's wanted for killing his fiancé Angela, but the justified reason why is incredibly. Angela went on a short trip to Hawaii but, somehow, returned as an entirely different person. In fact, she wasn't even a person anymore but a cold, emotionless and robotic being. What happened in Hawaii? Why did Angela need the plane's passengers list? Are there many more "machines" like her? Is mankind in danger?

Minor improbabilities aside, "Annihilator" is a good Sci-Fi thriller that kept me focused and intrigued. There are a few twists that seasoned genre fanatics and/or logically reasoning viewers will easily predict, but they're not bothersome. There's also a very long and totally unnecessary halfway interlude/montage that summarizes what happened so far and emphasizes how desperate our protagonist is. Considering it was intended as a TV-show pilot, I can accept this (and the musical tunes of David Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes" surely help). Adequate performances are given by Mark Lindsay Chapman and Susan Blakely, and definitely keep an eye open for brief appearances by a young Nicole Eggert, Brion James, and Earl Boen (who clearly has a thing for cyborg-Terminators!)

The film ends very open, with zero questions answered and all kinds of theories possible. Since the follow-up series never came, it'll also remain that way. The truth is still out there! Evil cyborgs may still be among us, and we don't know why, where they came from, or what their plans are. Think about that!

I caught this on HBO back in 1989, and this was definitely meant to launch a television series. Mark Lindsay Chapman plays a reporter who discovers a plot by aliens/androids to begin a conquest of Earth. Unfortunately, he's branded a fugitive when he is caught killing one of the cyborgs who replaced his girlfriend. His trip takes him through California and Oregon, where he learned that while his girlfriend was replaced by an android, others that vanished with her on an airplane flight she was on are still human. The end had him on the run with a list containing the names of all people that were on the flight that his girlfriend was on in an effort to see just who from the flight could remember just what happened. Great premise, though a bit underbudgeted (what could one expect when it came to sci-fi on network tv back in 1986?), and there were many questions that were never resolved. Definitely should have been followed up, since we never learned if Chapman's girlfriend was alive (played by Catharine Mary Stuart) or how he would manage to convince the human race of the threats posed by the aliens. With today's budget, it'd be great to see 'Annihilator' retried. Nice mix of 'The Fugitive' and 'War Of The Worlds'.

Even beyond the editing that inserts pauses for commercial breaks, I don't think it's unfair to say one can usually discern television films just by the tone they adopt, customarily lighter than their theatrical brethren. Plus, male characters are more clean-shaven, women are more conservatively dressed, dialogue might rely (even) more on clever quips, storytelling may be more direct, and so on. To this add the use of flashback framing in this instance, helping to build a narrative initially intended as a pilot for a series. Of course none of these or other facets are traits exclusive to TV movies, and they are no reflection on quality - any more than are the clear influences that screenwriters Bruce A. And Roderick Taylor took from classic 'Invasion of the body snatchers' material and James Cameron's recent smash hit 'The terminator,' among other things. True, one may say that facets like special effects or production values date more easily. Yet however much one may him and haw about particulars, when you get down to it 'Annihilator' only wants to have a good time, and I don't think there's much arguing that it does just that. I think this is pretty great!

Viewers can always tell when the cast are enjoying themselves, and when they do those feelings are often readily passed on to the audience. This 1986 flick is no exception, for even as the actors embrace the combination of action, science fiction, and horror with all due sobriety, they carry themselves with an infectious energy that makes me think they were about to crack a smile at any given time. Mark Lindsay Chapman is rock solid as beleaguered protagonist Robert, but rather illustrating the point, the supporting cast threaten to upstage him. Earl Boen, fresh off 'Terminator' himself, is always a joy; no one is taking the material more seriously than Susan Blakely in her supporting part as Layla. Catherine Mary Stewart makes a fine impression as Angela - yet though I admit bias since I'm already a fan, it sure seems to me that Lisa Blount is having the time of her life as Cindy, unexpectedly given more prominence here than in some of the other roles of her all too short career.

It's not just the cast, though, as the convivial, enthusiastic spirit quite seems to extend to all others involved. Maybe it's true that the more lighthearted tenor of the production limits, to some degree, the full potential of a tale that could have been darker, more violent, more impactful, and all-around more vibrant and lastingly memorable. The genre romp remains intact nonetheless, and in every capacity we see how much the affair was a labor of love for all involved. That goes for the flavorful, enticing, invigorating original score of Sylvester Levay, and the compiled soundtrack; Frank Mazzola's excited yet sharp editing and sequencing; and Paul Goldsmith's exquisitely smart, mindful cinematography. The effects artists were having a field day, and while there are instances of post-production visuals on hand (chiefly when we see the androids' perspective, but also the lights in their eyes), far more than not we're gratifyingly treated to a wonderful practical effects, not to mention a bevy of varied stunts. The props are just as well, not to mention art direction, costume design, and on a less specific note, hair and makeup. By and large, this is very well done.

This isn't to say that 'Annihilator' is perfect. It's not just that the writing is direct, but there comes a point when we see that it is decidedly simplified, relying on Movie Magic instead of meaningfully filling in the gaps between beats and ideas. This comes across in the back end above all, where to be frank the screenplay feels sloppy and rushed. The professor isn't written well, for example, and there's no rhyme or reason to how the climax is resolved, and no explanation. I assume we would have gotten an explanation, had this pilot been picked up for a series, for elements like some androids being different from others, and behaving more like humans, or for how individuals are selected or rejected for replacement. I'm sure that would have been the case, as the last minutes are written very discretely to set up an episodic structure to a series - the continuing fight of the protagonist against invaders. Unfortunately, in this singular TV feature, we don't get those explanations, and the viewing experience is diminished as a result. Don't get me wrong, overall the narrative here is engrossing and satisfying, and the scene writing is wonderfully flavorful. There were excellent possibilities for the characters, even if they weren't brought to their full potential. I like what the Taylors penned, much more than not, and Michael Chapman's direction is just splendid, as far as I'm concerned, in bringing out all the absorbing, engaging energy that each moment could reasonably bear.

I just wish the writers were given more of a chance to really flesh out the details of the story; maybe I'm being overly generous, but I assume production was rushed to the point of forcing cuts and rewrites, reducing the integrity of the story in the process. And still, while those flaws that come across in the script are significant enough for my favor to take a hit, I can't really name any others, and I'd be plainly lying if I said I didn't have fun. The picture remains above all a chance to tell an action-driven story of sci-fi horror, stirring together aspects of what were or are now considered esteemed classics; it was primed to be a series, but even as a standalone work it's a delight, and that is reflected in nearly every regard. It bears repeating that with more judicious care the end result would have been more complete and satisfying, nevermind those richer possibilities for how the concept might have been developed. One way or another, though, with generally superb contributions from the writers, director, cast, and crew alike, 'Annihilator' is highly entertaining and well worth checking out. It doesn't wholly demand viewership, and it's best suggested for those who are fans of the folks on hand, but if you do have the opportunity to watch then it deserves a look.

I first saw this TV movie on late-night British TV in the late eighties and was thrilled with it's simple, yet effective sci-fi edge; obviously, the film was made for a prospective television series that never happened - Which is a shame as the end result was far better than many of the series' that were approved and syndicated at the time.

Synopsis: Mark Lyndsay Chapman plays Richard Armour, a likable reporter whose life changes after his girlfriend, Angela (Catherine Mary Stewart) returns from a holiday in Hawaii with a female friend (Lisa Blount). Their return sees them change into emotionless cyborgs (like that of Terminator, complete with robotic red eyes under their lifelike human skin masks! In fact, so close is the analogy to "Terminator", that the "Annihilator" also stars Earl Boen (whom played Dr Silberman in both movies!) in a supporting role as fellow reporter, Sid!)).

These cyborgs (or Dynamitards as they are later revealed to be known as) exhibit calculated and unsympathetic views of animals, at one point referring to a dog as being 'One of these lesser animals', before disposing of the poor canine in a dumpster! Angela's lack of 'humanity', soon gives Richard just cause to think that something is up and is easily convinced that a dirty weekend away to a remote log cabin would be the ideal solution to rekindle and reconnect! It is here that Angela reveals her deadly intentions and Richard gets more than he bargained for as he barely escapes with his life and is forced to go on the run...

Richard soon discovers that the Hawaii passenger manifest is something of a Dynamitard 'hit list' and tries to find other passengers in hope of finding answers - And possibly the whereabouts of the real Angela - Before running into more deadly Dynamitards! The film is punctuated with Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes" soundtrack, using this now classic song to great effect as our hero staggers around, disillusioned and helpless; armed with a pump action shotgun, an English accent and some attitude, Richard's quest for the truth is soon accompanied by female friend and convert, Layla (Susan Blakely) as she convinces him to seek additional help and advice from Professor Alan Jeffries (Geoffrey Lewis), with disastrous consequences of betrayal...

Truly could have been a great TV series ( Personal Rating 8 / 10 )

A great sci-fi film and a good cast and music from David Bowie excellent special effects make this film a must to view and have myself seen over 50 times at least surely this must be released on DVD likewise night of the comet also starring catherine mary stewart and is equally a great film.it seems that the best cult classics are always the last to appear on DVD. An excellent soundtrack also help this movie along even though its not needed. At around 90 minutes this is one sci-fi film to look out for.... The David bowie song ashes to ashes is heard at two pivitol moments in the movie and indeed makes the movie that much more enjoyable.

I think this aired in 1986, on the old NBC Monday Night Movie, in the summer when it was usual to see lost TV pilots aired as movie-of-the-weeks. Told the tale of a newspaper reporter(Chapman) who has to miss a vacation(having won a "contest")with his girlfriend Angela, a scenario which, in the style it was filmed starts off very prosaic and normal until, as he narrates the entire film as a flashback, he finds her return plane had "gone off the radar" for 90 minutes, and returns, but delayed. He gets unnerved watching Angela speaking to a mysterious man in sunglasses,who seems to be watching the passengers leave the plane, asks who it was- and she denies having spoken to anyone. She is also unaware the plane was "delayed and missing". She begins acting strangely and having odd meetings with unknown people, and as the reporter begins to investigate things and ask more questions, she tries to kill him and he finds she's now a terminator-like robot(complete with the same kind of eye-tracking visuals from that film). Truly panicked he finds himself a wanted man, framed, and on the run with nothing more than the passenger list he got after dispatching the Angela robot. The only hint or clue we're ever given is one passenger who appears to be normal who claims "nothing went wrong on the flight, I slept, then felt a bump..and I had that awful nightmare.." . The reporter asks "What kind of nightmare?" and before she can say more, she's killed by another one of these robots. He finds out a little more, from another,older passenger who seems to be in charge of a localized group of these beings-he manages after a fight,to damage the mechanical brain and he begins talking incoherently about "Dynamitards...are the collective of Dymogeny" and how they intend to fully take over. We learn nothing else, other than he sets off,alone, in Fugtive-like fashion to find other normal passengers from the list-who were apparently checked off for termination-before the robots do. Obviously it was intended to be a series along the lines of Nowhere Man or The Fugitive, finding more clues along the way.

The film had some interesting "rock video" sequences,very much of the time-dissolves and used a perpetual "Los Angeles Sunset/Sunrise" for lighting. The use of Bowie's Ashes to Ashes and visual references to religious buildings and at one point, the hero seems to be standing in front of painted angel's wings, lead one to think these were possibly not aliens but something darker or even homegrown on earth.

This was a second series attempt from musician Roderick Taylor a year after Otherworld for CBS. Strangely, the very title, "Annihilator" is never explained. The unsold pilot tells the story of a newspaper publisher whose girlfriend has been apparently replaced by an android during the return flight from a vacation. A trip he missed due to business. After discovering the switch, he begins a quiet investigation of her fellow travelers, leading only to several attempts on his life and finally being framed by some unknown party for murder, sending him on the run with only a list of the passengers aboard the unfortunate flight as a starting point for his search for the masterminds behind the androids and their ultimate goal. The film maintains the Taylor trademark of an altered reality with the use of surrealistic imagery and music. Many story elements that would define the X-Files years later are on display here. It should also be noted that leading man Mark Lindsay Chapman, then going under the name Mark Lindsay, was given this role as compensation after being cast as John Lennon in a TV biopic, only to be removed when his real name was discovered to be the same as Lennon's killer.

to whom this may concern ; i've seen the annihilator movie many time since it's release in 1986 . my favorite parts of this movie are when the lead android was first seen behind that log cabin home when she tried to attack the male actor's role managed to turn the tables on her and he terminated her by nearly running her over with the jeep that he drove. he also terminated the other android by shooting her in the face with a shotgun and knocking some 10 feet to the floor and in the process knocking one of her red eyes right out of her head. well that's all for now and later in the movie a female cyborg was crushed on a wall by another cyborg that malfunctioned .

but can you answer this one question for me . i'd like to know what special visual and makeup effects were used in this made for t.v.movie that gave it the realism. i'd really like to know your insights on this.

Annihilator originally was aired on NBC back in the mid eighties, and it was a series pilot, a series pilot that never went any further, which is a shame. The show had a lot of promise, the lead actor had a lengthy and decent TV show resume, and I imagine they'd have somehow brought back Catherine Mary Stewart since she had a following back then due to Night of the Comet and the Last Starfighter. I always assumed NBC had a change of heart due to V. V and V: The Final Battle did rather well ratings wise for NBC, which lead them to start a TV series the same year Annihilator originally aired but the TV series just failed to gain the same ratings as the two mini's and NBC canned after a season, and probably assumed Annihilator would fail as well ratings wise, which it probably would have and that's a shame. It had cyborgs like Terminator, which I was obsessed with back then, the fate of the passengers kept me super curious and I imagine I would have remained curious if the show had run 2-3 seasons, and it borrowed a page from Michael Mann's book by doing the whole music video within a TV series thing that helped put Miami Vice on the map, and made Phil Collins a huge chunk of change.

Yes, parts of Annihilator are corny, especially the scenes featuring Nicole Eggert (Charle's in Charge, Baywatch) but it was the 80's and in the 80's, shows like Miami Vice which were supposed to be uber serious had cheese, and that was fine because the 80's were all about having fun.

In short, NBC dropped the ball on this one and instead just spoon fed the masses a few more seasons of bad shows like the Cosby Show.

Just seen this film on tv......and well the plot had promise but never delivered on it-we never found out why all this was happening and how.The way the film ends you think there may be a sequel-leaves a lot of unanswered questions.......

So they said lets do a Terminator TV show, but instead of hulking muscle massed Cyborgs they're actually hot chicks indstead. And every week will bring iin 2-3 hot new girls and the guy will have to suss out of thier Aliens Cybrgs or not and destroy them all while being hunted by the Police and "WOKE" cyborgs.

Well number one at the time the working droids and make up had to be expensive as all. plus your pretty much wasching domestic violence, as this guy going to be beating these women into a metal bloody pulp every week. And the molds and half-droid as these women are destroyed piece by piece, is goona be a hot dragg mess.