Bickering California cops Jay Handlin (ex-kickboxing champ Jerry Trimble) and Julie A. Parish (ex-karate champ Karen Sheperd) have to escort a witness back to South Africa because he knows the hidden location of a gold stash belonging to crime boss Alex Gatelee (Michel Qissi, who also directs). Why do these two cops dislike each other? Seems Jay handed Julie her ass in a mixed karate finals a few years back. Really. So when Julie is kidnapped by Gatelee's men, Jay kinda starts looking for her to save her. Don't get your hopes up (like I did) and think you are going to get a robotic woman kicking ass in this a la LADY TERMINATOR (1989). Julie just happens to be a lady who terminates with no cyborg connotations to be had. Aw shucks. Believe it or not, this is the first leading role vehicle I've seen for both Trimble and Sheperd. Both of them are quite good at what they do (kicking, punching, doing the splits) and aren't as stiff as some of their contemporaries. Trimble kind of looks like an Estevez/Michael Douglas hybrid, but he throws some pretty amazing kicks that put him on the level of someone like Hwang Jang Lee. Perhaps the most surprising thing about the film is that debuting director Qissi - better known as KICKBOXER's Tong Po - knows how to shoot some effective fight scenes. I guess all the time spent hanging out with Van Damme paid off. He does have a bit more trouble in the plot dynamics as Jay doesn't really seem to be looking too hard for his missing partner and is absolutely no help in her escape at the end. He does kick Gatelee onto a stalagmite though.
11 Reviews
Not exactly on a par with the Cameron films....
gridoon26 September 2007
One scene demonstrates the mentality of "Terminator Woman" pretty well: Karen Sheperd and another woman are trying to escape from the villain's camp. Karen runs across an armed guard, who points his gun at her, but after a few seconds throws it away and challenges her to a fight. Karen kicks him in the balls, picks up the gun and runs away! Then again, when a film is directed by a martial artist and written / produced by another member of his family, you know you shouldn't expect too much. Karen Sheperd and Jerry Trimble do get some amusing banter going early on, and the film might have turned out better if it had focused more on their love-hate relationship. But after about 20 minutes they get separated, and the film slows to a crawl, and even with the occasional fight scene to liven things up, it lacks excitement. The finale has Trimble fighting Qissi inside a cave and Sheperd going womano-a-womano against the beautiful Ashley Hayden on a speedboat, but the fights are intercut in a way that breaks their flow and diminishes their value. On the positive side, kudos to the costuming department for giving Karen the chance to show spectacular cleavage throughout the film! (*1/2)
"I don't sleep with snakes!"
The_Phantom_Projectionist13 May 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I say this about a lot of folks, but darnit if Karen Sheperd isn't an under-appreciated action heroine if ever there was one. Forever in the shadow (and strangely tied to the career) of Cynthia Rothrock, she's a well of limitless martial potential but always ended up on the short end of the stick, either getting duped by Corey Yuen or needing to settle for roles that Rothrock turned down. A 1993 low-budget flick by longtime Jean Claude Van Damme protégé Michel Qissi seemed like it might break this streak, but alas, poor Karen isn't even afforded an undiscovered gem, 'cause not only does TERMINATOR WOMAN have a very misleading title, it's also pretty bad for a B-movie.
The story: Police officers Jay Handlin (Jerry Trimble) and Julie Parish (Sheperd) are tasked with transporting a convicted dealer (Len Sparrowhawk) to a South African court, but when they are split up by a human trafficking circuit and the efforts of a deadly drug lord (Qissi), they'll have to rely on their physical talents to be reunited.
You'd think that with a title like this one, the movie would generally focus on Sheperd's character, but I'm pretty sure that champion kickboxer Jerry Trimble gets the most screen time among the three karate stars. Julie is teamed up with South African actress Kimberleigh Stark when the two of them are kidnapped out of the blue by a prostitution ring, and after their inevitable escape, Sheperd's quest becomes one of hiking through the bush while wearing tight pants and a very glittery top. Jay is generally the one doing the real detective work, and while he too is paired up with a rather useless sidekick (child actor Siphiwe Mlangeni), his exploits are much more interesting than his partner's. Michel Qissi - who will never live up to his intimidating presence in KICKBOXER - mostly sits in a chair and looks menacing. Sometimes he shoots people, but like the rest of the film's content, it's not terribly exciting stuff.
The fight scenes range from okay to tiring. Jerry Trimble outshines everybody with his amazing kicks, which look good even when he's simply performing an impromptu demonstration in his hotel room. He gets most of the seven brawls to himself, but doesn't get any significant opponents until meeting Qissi in a cave during the finale. The movie surpassed my expectations by making this one a pretty even back & forth encounter, but it lacks both the necessary choreography that made Jerry's best fights great and the emotional gravity that made Qissi's battle with Van Damme a classic. Despite having had what was arguably the best fight scene ever filmed between two women in ABOVE THE LAW, Sheperd's encounters feel less like fights than they seem spoofs of them: when her dumb opponents aren't knocking themselves out by running into things, the choreography is slow and awkward with the majority of her blows looking weak or obviously not connecting. Don't even get me started on when she finds a staff to fight with.
Production values aren't great and the acting is a shot in the bucket. The story held a bit of potential in revealing that Jay and Julie once faced each other in the fighting circuit and that Julie's eager for a rematch, but just as this is about to take place, the credits roll. Everybody involved in this one should've been doing something better, and the only satisfaction I can gain from this clunker is that the better work of my heroes here is way more prolific and well-known than TERMINATOR WOMAN. Go on ignoring it.
The story: Police officers Jay Handlin (Jerry Trimble) and Julie Parish (Sheperd) are tasked with transporting a convicted dealer (Len Sparrowhawk) to a South African court, but when they are split up by a human trafficking circuit and the efforts of a deadly drug lord (Qissi), they'll have to rely on their physical talents to be reunited.
You'd think that with a title like this one, the movie would generally focus on Sheperd's character, but I'm pretty sure that champion kickboxer Jerry Trimble gets the most screen time among the three karate stars. Julie is teamed up with South African actress Kimberleigh Stark when the two of them are kidnapped out of the blue by a prostitution ring, and after their inevitable escape, Sheperd's quest becomes one of hiking through the bush while wearing tight pants and a very glittery top. Jay is generally the one doing the real detective work, and while he too is paired up with a rather useless sidekick (child actor Siphiwe Mlangeni), his exploits are much more interesting than his partner's. Michel Qissi - who will never live up to his intimidating presence in KICKBOXER - mostly sits in a chair and looks menacing. Sometimes he shoots people, but like the rest of the film's content, it's not terribly exciting stuff.
The fight scenes range from okay to tiring. Jerry Trimble outshines everybody with his amazing kicks, which look good even when he's simply performing an impromptu demonstration in his hotel room. He gets most of the seven brawls to himself, but doesn't get any significant opponents until meeting Qissi in a cave during the finale. The movie surpassed my expectations by making this one a pretty even back & forth encounter, but it lacks both the necessary choreography that made Jerry's best fights great and the emotional gravity that made Qissi's battle with Van Damme a classic. Despite having had what was arguably the best fight scene ever filmed between two women in ABOVE THE LAW, Sheperd's encounters feel less like fights than they seem spoofs of them: when her dumb opponents aren't knocking themselves out by running into things, the choreography is slow and awkward with the majority of her blows looking weak or obviously not connecting. Don't even get me started on when she finds a staff to fight with.
Production values aren't great and the acting is a shot in the bucket. The story held a bit of potential in revealing that Jay and Julie once faced each other in the fighting circuit and that Julie's eager for a rematch, but just as this is about to take place, the credits roll. Everybody involved in this one should've been doing something better, and the only satisfaction I can gain from this clunker is that the better work of my heroes here is way more prolific and well-known than TERMINATOR WOMAN. Go on ignoring it.
I nearly bawled!
i_believe_in_God11 August 2006
This film has got several key flaws. The first and most significant of which is the clear lack of a good plot! This sadly makes the film not only difficult to watch but also sends the watcher certain feelings of hopelessness, as if he or she is wasting valuable time of their short life. This means that the film cannot captivate it's audience, instead it encourages the viewing public to grow contempt for the film and everything associated with it! In short, it really is very very very very very very very BAD! Do yourself a favour and chew on a large rubber shoe, you'll find it far more interesting and enjoyable than watching Terminator Woman.
Old school fun with plenty of action!
Movie-Misfit22 October 2014
Terminator Woman is hilarious, obviously for all the wrong reasons!
There is no terminator, but there is a woman. In fact, a few. But the one in question is co-star Karen Shepard who looks fantastic in her action scenes, and isn't the worst actor in the bunch.
In fact, everyone kinda passes the acting bench okay. Typically mid 90's dress sense, lifestyle and humour makes for more than a few unintentional laughs though, but that just ads to the charm!
Shot in South Africa, cops on holiday, Karen Shepard and super kicker Jerry Trimble are soon brought into the action against super bad ass and director Michael Qissi. This in turn leads to some fantastic fight scenes, some of which are probably both of their best and are fun to watch.
Terminator Woman may not be a classic, but for fight fans or that of the stars, its worth a place in anyone's collection!
There is no terminator, but there is a woman. In fact, a few. But the one in question is co-star Karen Shepard who looks fantastic in her action scenes, and isn't the worst actor in the bunch.
In fact, everyone kinda passes the acting bench okay. Typically mid 90's dress sense, lifestyle and humour makes for more than a few unintentional laughs though, but that just ads to the charm!
Shot in South Africa, cops on holiday, Karen Shepard and super kicker Jerry Trimble are soon brought into the action against super bad ass and director Michael Qissi. This in turn leads to some fantastic fight scenes, some of which are probably both of their best and are fun to watch.
Terminator Woman may not be a classic, but for fight fans or that of the stars, its worth a place in anyone's collection!
Great martial arts movie
m_roberts_0711 June 2013
It's been too long since I have watched Terminator Woman until today. I am kinda feeling little sorry for myself (I've been given a few days off from work) because I fractured my wrist in sparring while doing martial arts the other night but this little gem managed to keep me entertained as I'm waiting for the pain killers to kick in.
I have a feeling the previous reviewers who had bad things to say about this movie don't like other films of this genre...I love them.
In Terminator Woman we have plenty of martial arts action. Jerry Trimble Jr and Karen Sheperd make an awesome team together. I give this 10 out of 10 because the movie involves many great fight scenes, yes the acting is really bad but if you are like me and can watch a movie for the fun side of it, then I am sure you can enjoy this nice little martial arts gem from the good old day as long as you don't take the movie too seriously.
I have a feeling the previous reviewers who had bad things to say about this movie don't like other films of this genre...I love them.
In Terminator Woman we have plenty of martial arts action. Jerry Trimble Jr and Karen Sheperd make an awesome team together. I give this 10 out of 10 because the movie involves many great fight scenes, yes the acting is really bad but if you are like me and can watch a movie for the fun side of it, then I am sure you can enjoy this nice little martial arts gem from the good old day as long as you don't take the movie too seriously.
The movie as a whole plays to the strengths of the leads.
tarbosh2200019 November 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Sgt. Jay Handlin (Trimble) and Sgt. Julie Parish (Sheperd) are cops with an ongoing rivalry about who is the better Martial Artist - but could there be some sparks flying in the romantic department as well? In the midst of trying to figure these things out, the pair travel to Africa of all places to try and bring down crime lord Alex Gatelee (Qissi). Consequently, they get into a ton of fights and face some other trials and tribulations - Julie is kidnapped, Jay has to reject the advances of Gatelee associate Myra Bolo (Hayden), and so forth. After enlisting the help of some locals, their Martial Arts abilities are truly put to the test when they face the ultimate showdown - Gatelee himself, of course. Will Jay be Handlin business? Find out today...? Terminator Woman, not to be confused with Lady Terminator (1989), is professionally-shot and competently made - could it be a coincidence that this was not one of Trimble's Roger Corman-produced actioners? That being said, the pacing is off and things get a bit dull at times. If about 10 minutes were lopped off, this whole outing might have a bit more verve to it. But the leads are all top-notch: You've got fan-favorite Trimble, who, in the most complimentary sense, resembles a more meatheady Emilio Estevez, and his trademark raspy voice is instantly recognizable. Then you've got fellow fan-favorite Sheperd, an enjoyable screen presence whose Martial Arts skill is excellent and wonderfully captured here. Finally, there's Qissi, who also directed the movie, who very convincingly plays the baddie. So those are the movie's strengths and weaknesses for you, and they fight it out - like everyone else on screen - throughout the running time.
Generally speaking, we don't really care for 'Africa Slogs', as we call them, but this one is tolerable, thanks mainly to the aforementioned leads. The Trimble/Sheperd team up was an inspired choice, and it might remind you of similar pairings, such as Richard Norton and Cynthia Rothrock in the Rage and Honor diptych, or Steven Vincent Leigh and Sophia Crawford in Sword of Honor (1996). If nothing else, the movie as a whole plays to the strengths of the leads, and there are plenty of fights - as well as some good-natured stupidity - to prove that.
The whole thing is very 90's - just witness the scenes at the Backlash club for proof. Maybe it's an Africa thing, or maybe it's an action movie thing, but it's hard to imagine a dance club in the U.S. being named "Backlash". It's a bit too angry for us. Judging by the large "TW" logo on the U.S. VHS box art, perhaps the filmmakers were attempting a bit of branding: this is the one and only TW, and in their ideal world, people would ask each other around the water cooler, "have you seen the latest TW movie? I did, and it was awesome." Latest, because surely more TW's were planned. As it stands, presumably Sheperd is the TW, but the movie isn't solely about her and her quest. Trimble is an equal part, and they didn't call the movie "Terminator Man" - though, to be fair, Steve Railsback is the true Termination Man. Schwarzenegger ranks somewhere in there too, I'm sure.
In the midst of all the action, Trimble finds time to do a spontaneous shirtless Martial Arts workout/display alone in his hotel room whilst wearing tight jeans. The only outfit a 90's action star needs.
Generally speaking, we don't really care for 'Africa Slogs', as we call them, but this one is tolerable, thanks mainly to the aforementioned leads. The Trimble/Sheperd team up was an inspired choice, and it might remind you of similar pairings, such as Richard Norton and Cynthia Rothrock in the Rage and Honor diptych, or Steven Vincent Leigh and Sophia Crawford in Sword of Honor (1996). If nothing else, the movie as a whole plays to the strengths of the leads, and there are plenty of fights - as well as some good-natured stupidity - to prove that.
The whole thing is very 90's - just witness the scenes at the Backlash club for proof. Maybe it's an Africa thing, or maybe it's an action movie thing, but it's hard to imagine a dance club in the U.S. being named "Backlash". It's a bit too angry for us. Judging by the large "TW" logo on the U.S. VHS box art, perhaps the filmmakers were attempting a bit of branding: this is the one and only TW, and in their ideal world, people would ask each other around the water cooler, "have you seen the latest TW movie? I did, and it was awesome." Latest, because surely more TW's were planned. As it stands, presumably Sheperd is the TW, but the movie isn't solely about her and her quest. Trimble is an equal part, and they didn't call the movie "Terminator Man" - though, to be fair, Steve Railsback is the true Termination Man. Schwarzenegger ranks somewhere in there too, I'm sure.
In the midst of all the action, Trimble finds time to do a spontaneous shirtless Martial Arts workout/display alone in his hotel room whilst wearing tight jeans. The only outfit a 90's action star needs.
'Terminator Woman' is a triumphantly trashy, bone-crunchingly blissful B-Movie delight!'
Weirdling_Wolf5 April 2022
Up until the somewhat under-heralded release of low-budget Karen Sheperd-starring chop-schlocky sensation 'Terminator Woman', brooding, broad-shouldered, B-movie villain par excellence Michel Qissi was better known as the towering, pony-tailed tibia-thrashing Muay Thai champion Tong Po, and the charismatically evil Qissi creates another memorable martial arts maniac in the scar-faced guise of merciless mobster Alex Gatelee, a wealthy, wholly corrupt businessman whose myriad larcenies include gold smuggling and human trafficking. Now desperate to retrieve his stolen gold bullion Gatelee kidnaps Julie (Karen Sheperd) one of the tough Kung Fu-fantastic cops hot on his trail, a crude gambit which proves injudicious as Julie is infinitely more resourceful than Gatelee's lumpen thugs, and her equally determined, punch-happy partner Jay (Jerry Trimble) being no less resolute! Atmospherically set in a dusty, sun-hazed African locale, the talented polymath Qissi equips himself remarkably well as actor/director/fight-coordinator, and while the script is rarely better than prosaic, the suitably gruff-voiced Trimble & sinuous Sheperd are likeable, boisterously bantering, head-knocking,high-kicking heroes, both clearly capable screen-fighters, and Qissi maintains good energy throughout, orchestrating an edifying number of kinetic fight scenes, Gung ho gun battles and a suitably blood-thirsty climax, wherein agile karate cops Karen Sheperd and Jerry Trimble really get to strut their red-hot pugilistic stuff, and capable composer Bruce Cassidy's bouncy score adds some additional pep to the fabulous fist-fighting ferocity! Fans of PM Entertainment, 90s-era Steven Seagal and Andy Sidaris should certainly make the effort to seek lost 90s action gem 'Terminator Woman' out.
'Legendary 'Kick Boxer' icon Michel Qissi's chop-schlocky skull-smasher 'Terminator Woman' is a triumphantly trashy, bone-crunchingly blissful B-Movie delight!' - Tor Bronson / 'The Heroic Blood Shed'
'Head-turningly hard-bodied, head-knocking, karate-kicking cooze Karen Sheperd can whoop my pizza dough-soft, bad movie-watching ass ANY day of the week!' - Goosey Lucy / Buxom Bloodfiends.
'Legendary 'Kick Boxer' icon Michel Qissi's chop-schlocky skull-smasher 'Terminator Woman' is a triumphantly trashy, bone-crunchingly blissful B-Movie delight!' - Tor Bronson / 'The Heroic Blood Shed'
'Head-turningly hard-bodied, head-knocking, karate-kicking cooze Karen Sheperd can whoop my pizza dough-soft, bad movie-watching ass ANY day of the week!' - Goosey Lucy / Buxom Bloodfiends.
An Alright Movie with a Few Redeeming Qualities
Invictus12 March 2000
This was actually an alright movie. There is an abundance of action, and Jerry Trimble makes for a pretty good hero. Michel Qissi, although his directing skills might lack a little, his martial skill is impressive. It was quite a surprise to see Qissi's "real" face. There is only one song on the soundtrack "Body Talk". I have to say that is incredible, and of course, impossible to find. I really enjoyed that song, and it was a splendid choice for the film, although they could have put more songs in there. Jerry Trimble is also very good in "Breathing Fire" starring as an evil drug lord with co-star Bolo Yeung who is amongst my favourites. I would strongly recommend "Breathing Fire" to any martial arts film enthusiast.
Pretty good film - FOR A MARTIAL ARTS DRAMA
bibbitybop9921 August 2000
Not a bad martial arts film. Fight scenes were good. Michel Qissi did a good job directing his first film without Van Damme. Story worked without foul language and too much blood. Screenwriter Jeanette Francessca has a good line to the story that works. IT would be great to see something else from her in the same genre. She likes the art and having strong women promenant. IT was definitely worth watching. I recommend the film to all drama and martial arts lovers.
I thoughtfor a martial arts films..it was pretty cool.
bibbitybop9927 August 2000
Did not know what to expect from from Van Damme's partner & friend /trainer/and his fight choreographer for most of his films. It was nice to see him act as "TONG PO" in "Kickboxer and other Van Damme's films. Now he's on his own. He and his wife make a great team. In this one Qissi is the action director and lead bad guy and he's good. Really meanacing. His wife was the writer, producer and directed most of the scenes which didn't require action. She also did good job editing the film. Together they did a great job. The story made sense, the fight scenes were edited well, the leads were real fighters and looked good together - the story came together well, and if you can beleive it...no bad language, no sex, just action. A new one on me. Check it out!!!
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