Line #28 Film/Terminal


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/b1af1506_4ddd_4857_8bb8_59a9b05ab1ec.jpeg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350: [[{{Tagline}} Who says mystery is a lost art?]]]]
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4	''Terminal'' is a 2018 neo-noir film.
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6	The paths of a terminally ill suicidal man, a waitress/dancer, two assassins, and a terminal custodian cross in a game of cat and mouse involving local mobster Mr. Franklyn.
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8	Not to be confused with ''Film/TheTerminal''
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10	'''Due to the structure of the plot, as well as a number of twists, [[Administrivia/SpoilersOff all spoilers will remain unmarked]].'''
11	----
12	!!Who says tropes are a lost art?
13	* AliceAllusion: References to and imagery from ''Literature/AliceInWonderland'' are abundant in this film:
14	** Annie (or Bonnie) makes reference to needing to be mad as a hatter tosurvive where they live.
15	** Bonnie works as a dancer at "La Lapine Blanche" (The White Rabbit).
16	** ''Wonderland'' is actually mentioned as the favourite book of the twins, to the point that they can reference any passage on any page from memory.
17	* BaitTheDog:
18	** Bill Braithwaite initially comes off as pitiable, until his backstory reveals that he was an abusive teacher who molested Annie and Bonnie as children.
19	** The Janitor initially seems like a pitiable crook, but he turns out to be the ruthless mob boss Clinton "Mr. Franklyn" Sharp, who runs an assassination enterprise, as well as a man who murdered his own wife, leaving his children orphans.
20	* [[EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas Even Bad Women Love Their Mamas]]: Annie and Bonnie may be ruthless manipulators and killers, but they are acting out of vengeance for their mother's death.
21	* FemmeFatale: The character(s) known as Bottle Blonde, in reality a pair of twins by the name of Annie and Bonnie, are both attractive, manipulative, wily characters who use guile as a means of avenging their mother:
22	** Annie plays mind games with the teacher who molested her as a child, Bill, taunting him with the prospect of killing himself, before eventually killing him herself. She also seduces the assassin Alfred, turning him against his partner, Vince.
23	** Bonnie seduces the assassin Alfred, posing as Annie, continues turning him against his partner, and eventually kills Alfred himself.
24	** Both twins use their manipulations to eliminate Mr. Franklyn to avenge their mother.
25	* InLoveWithTheMark: Based on Bonnie's dialogue, Annie was actually falling for Alfred at the time Bonnie killed him.
26	* RapeAsBackstory: Annie and Bonnie were molested by their teacher, Bill Braithwaite, as children.
27	* SawStarWarsTwentySevenTimes: The twins have memorized the novel ''Alice in Wonderland'', and can quote any passage from any page.
28	* SiblingsInCrime: Annie and Bonnie are sisters who work with crime boss Mr. Franklyn in order to eventually betray him as revenge for him killing their mother.
29	* SuicideDare: Annie tries to goad Bill into killing himself out of spite for molesting her as a child. When he refuses, she stabs him in the throat herself.
30	* YouKilledMyFather: Gender-inversion: Annie and Bonnie are scheming to avenge their mother's death at the hands of their father.

Context Film / Terminal