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

Bruno Mattei Bruno Mattei (30 July 1931 – 21 May 2007) was an Italian film director, screenwriter, and editor who directed exploitation films in many genres, including women in prison, nunsploitation, zombie, mondo, cannibal, and Nazisploitation films. Ma ...

. Although the film was promoted as a rip-off of

James Cameron James Francis Cameron (born August 16, 1954) is a Canadian filmmaker. A major figure in the post-New Hollywood era, he is considered one of the industry's most innovative filmmakers, regularly pushing the boundaries of cinematic capability w ...

's ''

The Terminator ''The Terminator'' is a 1984 American science fiction action film directed by James Cameron. It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator, a cyborg assassin sent back in time from 2029 to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), whos ...

'' (1984), it is primarily a rip-off of Cameron's subsequent film ''

Aliens Alien primarily refers to: * Alien (law), a person in a country who is not a national of that country ** Enemy alien, the above in times of war * Extraterrestrial life, life which does not originate from Earth ** Specifically, intelligent extrate ...

'' (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 ''

'', it is not officially associated with that film. The plot has more in common with ''

''. 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 *

Tony Lombardi Tony E. Lombardi (born January 29, 1962) is an American football coach. He served as the interim head football coach at Eastern Michigan University for one game in 1999. Lombardi is the father of Northern Illinois Huskies quarterback Rocky Lomba ...

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 Severin Films is an American film production and distribution company known for restoring and releasing cult films on DVD and Blu-ray. History The label was created in 2006 in Los Angeles, and other offices were founded in New York City and Londo ...

released the film (under its ''Shocking Dark'' title) on

Blu-ray The Blu-ray Disc (BD), often known simply as Blu-ray, is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 2005 and released on June 20, 2006 worldwide. It is designed to supersede the DVD format, and capable of sto ...

on 29 May 2018.

References

External links

*
''Terminator II''
at Variety Distribution Terminator (franchise) 1989 films Italian science fiction films 1980s science fiction films Films directed by Bruno Mattei Films scored by Carlo Maria Cordio Films set in Venice 1980s Italian-language films Unofficial sequel films 1990s Italian films 1980s Italian films {{1990s-Italy-film-stub