Targets

Director Peter Bogdanovich's 1968 debut fictionalizes the true story of Charles Whitman—the sniper who killed 17 people on a shooting rampage in Texas in 1966—interweaving it through the story of an aging horror actor named Byron Orlok (Boris Karloff), who wants to retire because his type of character is no longer relevant. Bogdanovich was given free rein by legendary producer Roger Corman, with the caveats that he cast Karloff (who owed Corman a couple of days work) and also incorporated footage from the earlier Corman production The Terror. Bogdanovich's solution was to make a unique, self-reflexive film in which the true monster is not the mythical creature onscreen but rather all-American boy Bobby Thompson (Tim O'Kelly), who murders his entire family and embarks on a deadly spree with no apparent motive. Bogdanovich plays these scenes with precise detail and little dialogue, letting the true nature of Bobby's actions slowly reveal itself as he methodically shoots innocent bystanders, culminating at a drive-in where Orlok's final movie is playing. It's still amazing that so serious and powerful a film could come out of such strange pre-conditions. Although this wasn't Karloff's last motion picture, it is the farewell performance for which he should be remembered: he's gentle, funny, sad, and dignified throughout, and gets to be the hero—a rarity in a career spent playing villains. Formerly out of print, Targets is now available as part of the manufacture-on-demand Warner Archive. Extras include a director's commentary. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)