Weirdly Lovable… Like a Movie From Another Dimension

Read Time:5 Minute, 28 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Terminus (Collector's Edition)
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Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Action
Year Released: 1987, MVD Rewind Collection 2025
Runtime: 1h 23m (U.S. version) / 1h 55m (Extended French version)
Director(s): Pierre-William Glenn
Writer(s): Pierre-William Glenn, Patrice Duvic, Alain Gillot, Wallace Potts
Cast: Karen Allen, Jürgen Prochnow, Johnny Hallyday, Gabriel Damon, Julie Glenn
Where to Watch: available June 25, 2025, pre-order your copy here: www.mvdshop.com or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: There are cult films… and then there are the kind of movies that feel like they escaped from a fever dream at a VHS rental store in an alternate timeline. TERMINUS belongs to the latter. Directed by cinematographer-turned-madman Pierre-William Glenn, this 1987 French-American hybrid is getting a high-def debut courtesy of the MVD Rewind Collection, and somehow—somehow—it’s kind of delightful in its B-movie bonkers way.

Set in the futuristic dystopia of 2037 (because, of course, it is), the film centers on a genetically engineered child-genius named Mati who remote-controls an unstoppable, AI-driven mega-truck called “Monster” in a cross-country death race filled with explosions, betrayal, and leather. Oh, and that kid? He’s part of a sadistic game engineered by not one, not two, but three different versions of Jürgen Prochnow, who is having the time of his life chewing scenery with French-accented menace. If you're not sold by that, just know that Johnny Hallyday (a.k.a. the “French Elvis”) plays the gruff hero, and Karen Allen shows up as a wild-card rebel leader in futuristic fatigues.

TERMINUS plays out like someone tried to blend Mad Max, Knight Rider, and an ‘80s music video into one neon-glazed epic. The tone is equal parts serious and silly, giving off that earnest-but-nutty vibe that only low-budget European sci-fi of the ‘80s could pull off. Monster trucks rumble across empty roads. Fireballs erupt without warning. Plotlines emerge, vanish, then reappear wearing sunglasses and a trench coat. And somewhere in the middle of it all, Stan Ridgway shows up on the soundtrack with a song called “End of the Line,” just to make sure your cult credentials are fully punched.

The new MVD Blu-ray makes this oddity shine in ways it probably wasn’t meant to. You get two versions of the film: the shorter 83-minute U.S. cut (in 1.78:1) and the longer 115-minute French version (in full 2.35:1 widescreen). Watching both is a rite of passage, like trying two equally weird flavors of the same soda. Also included are some pretty solid extras, including an interview with Prochnow and a making-of doc featuring the director’s family (because this was a family affair). Throw in a slipcover, reversible art, and a mini-poster, and you’ve got a collector’s edition that feels lovingly assembled.

Visually, TERMINUS isn’t half bad. The effects range from “surprisingly decent” to “what am I looking at,” but there’s a charm to its ambitious jankiness. The truck design for “Monster” is pure childhood toybox fantasy—oversized, armored, and packed with more artificial intelligence than any vehicle has a right to have. It looks like something that would be sold with a line of action figures and a Saturday morning cartoon that ran for six episodes.

What holds it back from greatness is its lack of narrative cohesion. Characters drift in and out with minimal explanation, the stakes are vague, and motivations are often hidden under layers of synth score and smoke machines. You can feel the ambition bursting from every angle, but the story keeps getting lost in its smoggy, style-over-substance delivery. It’s so committed to its weirdness that it almost forgets to keep the audience with it.

Still, this is a find for fans of fringe cinema—especially those who thrive on ‘80s excess, over-the-top-drenched futures, and the kind of plotlines that would get laughed out of modern studios. It’s never boring, occasionally brilliant, and always marching to the beat of its mutant drum. TERMINUS isn’t quite a hidden gem. It’s more like a shiny piece of retro junk art at a flea market—confusing, maybe a little broken, but bursting with personality. And that might just be worth the ride.

Bonus Materials:
US version of the “Terminus” (83 mins) presented in 1080p HD in 1.78:1 aspect ratio with English LPCM 2.0 Stereo Audio and optional English Subtitles
Extended French version of “Terminus” (115 mins) presented in 1080p HD in 2.35:1 aspect ratio with French 2.0 Stereo Audio and Optional English Subtitles
NEW! Interview with star Jürgen Prochnow (HD, 15:55)
NEW! “We All Descend – The Making of Terminus ” (incl. interviews with Vincent Glenn (son of director Pierre-William Glenn), star Julie Glenn (daughter of Pierre-William Glenn) & archival interviews with Pierre-William Glenn (HD, 49:30) (In French with Eng Subs
Photo Gallery
Reversible Artwork
Collectible Mini-Poster
Original Theatrical Trailer
Limited Edition Slipcover (First Pressing Only)

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