Targets Reviews

Nah, bro, I have to worry about driving on the 405 freeway now and drive-in theaters 😭. Boris Karloff, a badass out here giving la cachetadas lol. It's pretty crazy that this was Peter Bogdanovich's directorial debut, and it's definitely a strong debut.

Most american film oat? A psychopathic white middle class suburbanite commits a mass shooting while drinking coke. Not to forget the drive in theatre too. Also most fascinating use of a movie star in Boris Karloff playing himself.

“I hardly ever miss, did I?”

Targets is a must watch film from the 60s, as while its pacing is a bit slow, it makes up for it in thrills that still hold up almost 60 years later, as the film actually made me jump twice with its use of loud noises, which going the fact it’s not even a horror movie should tell you a lot.

I strongly recommend Targets, as it feels so modern yet so of its time, probably because of its very forward thinking nature and its Alfred Hitchcock type scares. My only thing I do have to warn you about is that the film is basically made for the third act as it feels like they started there then worked backwards.

1st Act 9/10 (Thought that the opening scene set the stage really well and the whole subtle psycho parts from the sniper are also done really well. Especially the part where he’s not so subtle.)

2nd Act 8.2/10 (On the edge of dull, as it’s basically the set up for the 3rd act, with only exposition, but I do really like Orlok’s speech.)

3rd Act 11/10 (The whole cinema to ending part is one of the greatest things to come out of the 60s, as not only is it well shot, but it’s well acted, from all perspectives and my god the final lines from both the pro and antagonists are so well done it read like poetry.)

Plot 8.4/10 (Basically revolves around the final act but it has some moments of really good, but they’re only for the sniper apparently, as the whole Byron Orlok plot isn’t well done.

Soundtrack/Score N/A (wasn’t noticeable in the slightest.)

Acting 8.8/10 (Three really good performances, Boris Karloff, Tim O’ Kelly and Chris Kent. Boris and Tim for obvious reasons being the main characters and giving it there all with some standout performances, but Chris Kent has about 9 seconds of screen time, and he’s so good in those 9 seconds I remembered him enough that I looked him up, as the expression he pulls in that car is so heartbreaking he deserves atleast one award.)

Pacing 6/10 (I do have this problem with 60s movies being too short but I also don’t for others, so just gonna assume it’s the movie for now.)

Cinematography 8.7/10 (Great for the time, and of course for the fact they had 130,000 budget, which in film terms is equal to a bag of chips with handshake (not included).

Character Development 8.6/10 (We don’t really see the sniper develop much as he’s presented as an always psychotic bastard, but I do got to give props to Boris for being able to do this a year before he died.)

Writing 8.5/10 (Just solid work all round.)

Ending 9/10 (“Is *that* what I was afraid of?)

Direction 8.7/10 (Will definitely check out more from Bogdanovich, especially as this was a very strange directional debut.)

Overall
94.9/110
8.5/10

Rating: 6.5/10

The overall mise en scene, cinematography, and editing techniques are rather unimpressive, however, the plot still holds relevance today. Based on a mass shooting which took place just years prior its release, the film preys on the audiences existing fears. With mass shootings being a common event in the news today the film still holds its effect. I could have done without the cross cutting between two entirely separate plots and I would have enjoyed a more climactic ending but keeping in mind that it had low budget and was made in the 60s this film is worth a watch.

An exploration of changing times and fiction and reality. The film, despite being made in 68, is still relevant today with its depictions of mass shootings and the young taking over for the old: The film had a great emphasis on the sound from radio and film.