Sci-fi classic Terminator 2: Judgment Day re-scored for 35th anniversary cinema and music experience at Hamer Hall
To mark the 35th anniversary of James Cameron’s career-defining film, electronic music producer Peter Van Hoesen (Belgium) and local laser maestro Robin Fox come together to reconceptualise the world’s most famous sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Hamer Hall from 26 – 28 February 2026.
Cinephiles, arthouse lovers and fans of experimental sound can enter a new concert experience from the much-loved live cinema collective Hear My Eyes. The new interpretation does not seek to replace Brad Fiedel’s iconic score but rather offer a contemporary lens through which to experience this prophetic film, amplifying its themes of technological anxiety and human resilience for our current moment.
“This is our 21st original production set to a feature film, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day will mark our 52nd screening since the inception of Hear My Eyes in 2015. Audiences resonate with this concept of re-contextualising a film with a new score because we curate thought-provoking and powerful cinema that demands your attention,” said Haydn Green, Artistic Director of Hear My Eyes.
The vision for the re-working of Terminator 2: Judgement Day’s soundtrack is to heighten Cameron’s revolutionary meditation on consciousness and technology through Peter Van Hoesen’s dynamic electronic landscape. His orchestration of seismic rhythms, otherworldly textures and cybernetic soundscapes echoes the film’s delicate balance of human vulnerability and machine efficiency.
“We’ve been working on this project for over six years now, and have found it very hard to land on a legitimate artist whose skill set and sonic palette matches the potent combination of high-art and mainstream appeal that lies within Terminator 2: Judgement Day, but that’s how I feel about Peter’s’ music. I know that he will create something truly unique, emotive, powerful, artful and beautiful,” said Green.
Van Hoesen is a Belgian electronic music producer, live performer, sound designer and mastering engineer whose approach to creating the new score is very personal. A master of cerebral, bass-heavy electronic music, Van Hoesen’s hardware-driven live performances create immersive sonic landscapes that blur the boundaries between human intuition and machine precision. His approach, rooted in deep psychedelic textures and evolving rhythmic patterns, captures the essence of the human/machine dialogue at the heart of Terminator 2: Judgement Day.
“My score will be completely electronic, so veering away from a standard orchestral approach which we hear in most movie scores. Everything starts with aligning the musical storytelling with whatever is happening on screen. From there I can start exploring the different ways in which to enhance the entire experience,” said Van Hoesen.
For this special performance, Van Hoesen will be joined by the Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio (MESS) Synthesiser Orchestra, transforming his typically solo live set into an expansive ensemble piece. This collaboration sees Van Hoesen conducting and performing alongside MESS’s collection of rare vintage synthesizers and modular systems, creating a unique fusion where his precision sonics meets the raw, unpredictable character of analogue machinery.
“MESS provides an amazing collection of synths. I have a certain tonality in mind for the score, so the selected instruments will reflect that. I also look forward to working with the MESS musicians in a live setting. As the score will be completely electronic, without any classical orchestral elements, I think it will be real treat to present this in a live setting,” said Van Hoesen.
Robin Fox’s laser choreography creates a living digital architecture around the narrative, dissolving the boundary between audience and artificial intelligence. His trademark laser art will transform the iconic Hamer Hall into an immersive sensory environment, creating a visual bridge between the film’s world and our own.
Drawing inspiration from Terminator 2’s pioneering digital effects, Fox’s laser brilliance extends the film’s groundbreaking visuals into real, volumetric space. This addition elevates the experience beyond traditional film screening into a unique artistic convergence where light, sound and image become one.
“Sound is so essential to the way we receive cinematic images. The Hear My Eyes project re-visions the films we know and love by changing that key aspect of the sensory experience. But what I love about the way they do it is the respect they still have for the original score. It’s never about making a ‘better’ score – it’s more like an experiment in meaning making, an opportunity to reimagine through sound,” said Fox.
Sitting between a film screening and live concert, Hear My Eyes bring together a line-up of artists for an immersive cinema and music experience. This once-in-a-generation movie redefined sci-fi action and pushed CGI into a new era making it a landmark in pop culture and cinema history.
“I want audiences to feel that they have witnessed something truly original, powerful and unforgettable; a surge of emotion and excitement having experienced light and sound intersect in a new and profound way,” said Green.
Arts Centre Melbourne presentsHear My Eyes – Terminator 2: Judgement DayAll new live score by Peter Van Hoesen (Belgium) with MESS Synthesiser Ensemble + live laser show by Robin FoxHamer Hall | 26 – 28 February 2026
Thursday 26 February | 7:00pm
Friday 27 February | 7:00pm
Saturday 28 February | 2:00pm, 6:00pmDuration: 3 hours (including interval)
Warnings: Film rating of M, contains violence, haze, strobe, lasers and loud music
Age Recommendation: 15+
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