9. The Terminator - The Terminator
Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator deserves a certain amount of credit -- when he shows up, he shows up. He drops into frame, having travelled from a post-apocalyptic future ravaged by a war between robots and humans, and is immediately terrifying. His immense stature, extreme physical fitness, and total lack of clothes make it clear to the audience that although he has a human form, he is definitely not a person. The fact that at this point in time Arnold was a very inexperienced film actor actually works to his advantage: his stiff walk and straightforward line delivery add to the overall feeling that the Terminator is something trying very hard to look and act human, but isn't quite there yet.
Audrey Fox
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Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
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