Summary
Arnold Schwarzenegger’sSabotageis a thinly-veiled remake of a classic Agatha Christie tale, and one that could use an “Ayer Cut” of its own. When Schwarzenegger made his acting comeback following his stint in politics, his fans were hoping for a return to form from the action icon. Sadly, none of theArnold Schwarzenegger action moviesthat landed during the 2010s measured up to his heyday, critically or commercially. Projects likeThe Last StandorEscape Planwere fun but disposable fare, but fell short of classics likeCommando.
This David Ayer-directed thriller is a looseAgatha Christie adaptationand turnedAnd Then There Were Noneinto a gory, nihilistic action flick. Unfortunately,Sabotagewas a total bomb, grossing $18 million on a $35 million budget(viaThe Numbers). It was savaged critically too, scoring a dire 21% onRotten Tomatoes. In its own way, the film confirmed that Arnold could no longer sell a movie on his name alone, and it marked the last time (to date) he was the undisputed lead of a big budget movie.
Harold Perrineau
Darius Jackson
MostDavid Ayer moviesbeforeSabotagehad been modest budget affairs likeEnd of Watch. Helming an Arnie action movie was a step up for the helmer in terms of scale, and whatever the 2014 thriller’s flaws, Ayer stages some crunchy action sequences. The movie went through several name changes too, includingTenandBreacher, before settling on its final title.WhenSabotagearrived on home video, it came with a trove of deleted scenes and alternate endings, which greatly expanded on the story and took it in a very different direction.
The most shocking difference was Sabotage’s original finale revealing that it was Arnold’s Breacher who was the killer.
That’s because Ayer intendedSabotageto be a slow burn, with just as much emphasis put on the mystery as the action. The romantic subplot between Schwazenegger’s “Breacher” and Olivia Williams' cop Brentwood was given more time to breathe, while the latter had her own emotionally charged side story involving a missing girl. The most shocking difference was the finale revealing that it was Breacher himself who was the killer.The alternate endings offered Breacher two fates; one where he’s shot dead by Brentwood, and another where he kills her and escapeswith the stolen cartel money.
Sabotageco-star Sam Worthington previously appeared inTerminator: Salvation, the only entry in that franchise not to feature Arnold Schwarzenegger as the T-800.
This darker version ofSabotagedid not do well with test audiences, who were unwilling to accept Arnold as the villainof the piece. This resulted in the film being recut and reworked, with the theatrical version putting more of a focus on the action scenes, while two other characters were revealed as the killers instead.
Sabotage’s Reshot Ending Redeemed Arnie’s Breacher
Breacher earns his revenge in Sabotage’s new finale
The changes made toSabotagesoftened Arnold’s character, but a totally different ending was needed.The film reveals that while Breacher did steal the money from his team, it was Lizzy (Mireille Enos) and Sugar (Terrence Howard) who killed the rest of the squadout of revenge. After Lizzy and Sugar are killed, Breacher takes a trip to Mexico to track down the man who brutally murdered his wife and son. This leads to a bloody shootout in a bar where Arnold’s antihero gets his revenge, though is mortally wounded in the process.
Sabotage’scurrent ending makes it clear that Breacher’s actions caused the carnagethat unfolds throughout the story. His desire for revenge led him to deceive and betray his other family, with distrust and resentment tearing them apart from within. In the original ending that portrayed Breacher as the killer, he revealed one of his team had sold out his family to the cartel; since he didn’t know who was responsible, he decided to kill themall. At least in the new finale, Breacher can die knowing he avenged his wife and child.
Sabotage Was Supposed To Change Arnold’s Career
Sabotage was intended to reinvent Arnie’s screen image
Arnold Schwarzenegger became a megastar in the 1980s due to his muscles and unique charisma. For a time, he seemed unbeatable at the box office, but as is the case with every film star, there comes a moment when audience interest wanes. Even before his move into politics, Arnold vehicles likeCollateral DamageorThe 6th Dayunderperformed. Viewers were no longer interested in his mix of puns and explosions, sowithSabotage, David Ayer set out to give the viewing public a more grounded version of Schwarzenegger.
He still fired big guns, but the gags and charm were stripped way back. Speaking withGeekTyrantbefore production began, Ayer stated “He’s playing a real guy, a real guy in the real world, [Quips are] not how I roll.” More than that, the filmmaker made it his mission to present a different side to the action legend.
We’re going to reinvent the guy. It’s going to be a new Arnold. I’m going to transform him.
Had Ayer’s plan worked,Sabotagecould have given Arnold a Clint Eastwood-style makeover, turning him into a grizzled older figure who didn’t need muscles or puns to keep viewersinterested. While Schwarzenegger would continue to experiment with more dramatic material in films likeMaggie,Sabotagewas such a dud that it all but killed his days as a leading man.
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In 2014 Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in a loose adaptation of an Agatha Christie thriller, which was intended to transform his screen persona.
Sabotage Needs An Ayer Cut Just As Much As Suicide Squad
Sabotagecould use an Ayer Cut of its own because the movie’s various deleted scenes hint at a much better version.
Ayer has made it clear thatSabotagewas more of a work-for-hire gig, as opposed to something he was truly passionate about. Still, having to dilute his version following test screenings must have stung, but Ayer had a much worse time on 2016’sSuicide Squad. This DCU film was always intended to be a grittier take on the genre, but following the poor critical reception that greeted Zack Snyder’sBatman V Superman: Dawn of Justicemonths earlier, Warner Bros insisted on heavily reworking Ayer’s film.
Suicide Squadlost many scenes, including more time with Jared Leto’s Joker and scenes that fleshed out the relationships between the titular gangof misfits further. It was also recut to better match the tone of a more lighthearted trailer that had tested well - despite the fact it didn’t resemble the film Ayer made. The filmmaker has spoken of his heartbreak over the movie’s reception but despite talk of “The Ayer Cut” restoring his original intent, a director’s cut has yet to happen.
Suicide Squad 2016: Every New Ayer Cut Scene & Detail Just Revealed
As momentum gathers around the #ReleaseTheAyerCut campaign, a series of leaks have revealed cut moments from 2016’s Suicide Squad. Here’s every one.
Sabotagecould use an Ayer Cut of its own because the movie’s various deleted scenes hint at a much better version. With more breathing room, a bigger focus on the mystery angle - and one that leans into its Agatha Christie origins - the film could earn a whole new fanbase. A re-edit could make some of the lead characters less obnoxious too. That said, given how little interest Warner Bros has in a freshSuicide Squadcut, it would be that much harder to getSabotage’sproducers behind a new version of a box office bomb.
