TARGETS

TARGETS (1968) is the subject today - a look back at the directorial debut of Peter Bogdanovich (the Last Picture Show). This film was a shocker then but even more relevant now by today's standards of “oh my god look at what he just did!” type of movies. Movie icon Boris Karloff stars in one of his last major studio performances as an aging horror film star conflicted with thoughts of retirement as his young assistants and screen writers try to talk him out it. A parallel story shows an apparently average young man (played by Tim O'Kelly) accumulating an arsenal of rifles before embarking on a horrific shooting spree. The separate plots ultimately converge, culminating in a shattering climax at a drive-in theatre. This one is a MAD cult classic in my opinion as it shows how calculating the villain is and how real the hero/main character is. The movie co-stars Nancy Hsuer and Peter Bogdanovich in an unaccredited role, and look for Frank Marshal as a ticket boy - he would later produce over 90 major motion pictures in Hollywood - Indiana Jones and Back to the Future just to name a few. Also look for Mike Farrell (MASH) as the phone booth victim and Gary Kent - B-movie actor/stuntman of the 60's and 70's. Some say Randy Quaid, better known as cousin Eddie in the National Lampoon Vacation movies, appeared in his first ever film role as an early victim. Is it him? In my opinion, yes. Other’s will argue he could have used a stage name for the credit. A MAD movie indeed but that's what I like about it as will fans of the genre. Truly one of a kind classic and those who agree…you know who you are.