In the vast universe of cinematic human shields, one unsuspecting bystander in “Total Recall” takes the cake.
There he was, Mr. Bystander, starting his day with optimism. The sun was shining, his morning coffee was brewed perfectly, and he had that spring in his step, thinking, “Today’s going to be the best day ever!”
Perhaps he was mentally preparing for a meeting or looking forward to catching up with friends after work. But, as fate would have it, he found himself smack dab in the middle of a Schwarzenegger showdown.
You gotta love how Arnie doesn’t even flinch as he fires away with his free hand, bullets bouncing off the human shield left and right. The way he swivels the guy around to block shots from all directions shows his expert shield usage skills.
But wait, there’s more! Not content with merely using him as a bullet sponge, Arnie then launches him down an escalator like a human bowling ball, aiming for a strike against the baddies.
Definitely the gold standard of human shield use in cinema right there.