Targets (1967)
Starring: Boris Karloff, Tim O'Kelly, Peter Bogdanovich,
Director: Peter Bogdanovich
Synopsis: Superb thriller - All American blue eyed boy "snaps" with murderous results
Reviewed by: Omar Khan

This movie announced Peter Bogdanovich as a director of prodigious talent way back in 1968 when guys like Francis Ford Copolla and Martin Scorsese were finding their feet. This gem of a film came about as a result of Roger Corman's legendary opportunism. He reportedly gave some outtakes of his own horror film The Terror to Bogdanovich and asked him to construct a story around the outtakes. Bogdanovich went away and came back with one of the unsung classics of the 60's. A film that works on several levels; as a tribute to horror legend Boris Karloff who basically plays himself in the movie - nearing the end of a fabulous career - jaded and slightly disillusioned by the ugliness of the modern world around him. The film also works as a shocking thriller about perfect America gone horribly wrong; gun control; and the fine illusion of a line between a world of stability and one reeling through rage and insanity.

The film has two parallel stories that slowly come horrifyingly together in a wonderfully tense climax. On the one hand there is Karloff playing a crabby retiring star who is reluctant to attend a final "guest appearance" at the local drive-in and is being pursued by his charming secretary and his director (played by Bogdanovich) not to cancel at the last minute. He agrees; albeit with utmost reluctance not to play spoil sport on this occasion - the last time he will have to do the grind. In the same town in perfect suburbia live the ideal American family consisting of oldies Mom and Dad and their bright young son and his pretty wife. The young husband (Tim O'Kelly) seems to be harbouring a dangerous obsession with firearms and a few days down the road something snaps within resulting in a deluge of the most shocking horror.

The film is truly horrifying and exceptionally directed by Bogdanovich who feigns using typical horror film music and fancy camera tricks with stunning effect. The murderous spree is all the more horrific the way Bogdanovich presents it - no gimmicks, no frills, no background music, no bullshit. What seems most amazing is that here Bogdanovich shows a wealth of talent and later there was the masterly Last Picture Show and the charming Paper Moon…but whatever happened to Bogdanovich ever since? The touch utterly deserted poor Peter Bogdanovich, but at least he can lay claim to a couple of huge classics; the abovementioned Last Picture Show and Targets, his astoundingly assured debut picture. Boris Karloff is superb and turns in one of his finest performances of a glittering career.