There are films you watch once, enjoy, and then forget. And then there are those that grab you by the collar, throw you into a whirlwind of action and intrigue, and still have you grinning years later. Total Recall firmly belongs in the second category. Released over three decades ago, it remains one of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s most exhilarating rides – and thanks to Netflix, it’s ready to turn your evening into a pulse-pounding trip to the future.
A sci-fi adventure with a twist
The year is 2048. Every night, Douglas Quaid is haunted by dreams of Mars – visions so vivid they feel like memories. Desperate to find answers, he visits Rekall, a company that implants artificial memories for a taste of adventure without leaving Earth. But the procedure goes horribly wrong. Instead of fantasy, it unlocks real memories of Quaid’s past life as a formidable agent working for the ruthless Martian ruler Cohaagen.
From there, the pace doesn’t let up. Quaid is hunted through bustling cities and alien landscapes, forced to confront not only his pursuers but also his own identity. It’s a story that keeps you questioning what’s real and what’s been planted in his mind – a theme lifted from the mind-bending works of Philip K. Dick, whose novel inspired the film.
Paul Verhoeven at full throttle
By 1990, Dutch director Paul Verhoeven had already made waves with RoboCop. With Total Recall, he pushed the boundaries of science fiction even further. His Mars is gritty and tactile, packed with strange details and bold production design that still impresses in the age of CGI.
Schwarzenegger, at the height of his action-hero powers, delivers a performance that balances brute force with just the right amount of bewilderment. And then there’s Sharon Stone, all icy glamour and lethal grace, who steals scenes as Quaid’s duplicitous wife – a role that hinted at the screen dominance she’d unleash two years later in Basic Instinct.
A villain to remember
Every great action film needs a memorable antagonist, and here we get two for the price of one. Ronny Cox plays Cohaagen, the power-hungry tyrant running Mars with an iron fist. But it’s Michael Ironside as Richter – Cohaagen’s fiercely loyal right-hand man – who really sticks in the mind. With a scowl that could curdle steel, Richter is relentless, fuelled by both duty and personal grudges. He’s the kind of villain you can’t wait to see get his comeuppance, even as you secretly admire his tenacity.
Why it still works today
In an era when many older blockbusters feel dated, Total Recall retains its bite. The practical effects give it a tactile, almost gritty quality, and the mix of high-stakes action, cerebral plot twists, and sly humour means it hasn’t lost its entertainment value. Whether you’re revisiting it or coming in fresh, it’s a masterclass in how to blend spectacle with smarts.
So tonight, skip the endless scrolling and let Schwarzenegger take you to Mars. Just be ready – once you hit play, you might not want to come back.
