Target Practice has been making the rounds at film festivals, and other indie venues for some time now, but has just recently been released for the masses. I am always put off by indie films, especially when they are low budget, so I had very low low expectations for the film. There is just something about a low micro-budget indie action flick that just doesn’t appeal to me. To my surprise, Target Practice kept me on the edge of my seat, had excellent production quality (considering the budget), and is DEFINITELY worth watching.
Synopsis from IMDB:
“Target Practice” is an intelligent but raw, visceral, extremely tense outdoor thriller with an emphasis on character as much as action. The story centers on 5 blue-collar friends on a weekend fishing trip – and the hell that’s unleashed upon them when they almost run into a car that’s been abandoned in the middle of an isolated mountain road. Stopping to see if anyone needs their help, they inadvertently stumble into the middle of an undercover operation involving a CIA agent and a hidden training camp for homegrown terrorists (molded after real-life, recent discoveries in both the U.S. and Canada). Suddenly, these 5 regular, everyday guys find themselves way out of their league, fighting a bloody battle against a cunning, well-trained, brutal enemy that knows the rugged terrain like the back of its hand. A battle that quickly spirals into a full-scale mini-war for which they are completely unprepared… Written by Richmond Riedel
Let me sum it up for you: Some dudes go fishing, encounter some other pissed off dudes with guns, and then spend the rest of the film trying to make it out of BFE alive. As simple and predictable as the plot seems, it is written in a way that makes a very entertaining, action packed film.
The Good:
What I really enjoyed about the film was the fact that it just keeps going. The film is packed with action, dialogue, suspense, and other bits that keep your attention for the length of the film. Every time you think it is over, BAM! there is something new happening.
The effects are awesome for such a low budget film, I was very surprised with how much care was put into this aspect of the film. Just the right amount of blood and gunshots, nothing really over the top, or really fake looking. There were times I even forgot I was watching an indie film.
The plot was incredible. It was something different, and refreshing. The stories of the group intertwined with just enough background story to keep you interested, but not so much that it takes away from the intensity of the film. And all of the characters had very unique personalities, much like you would find in a group of friends in real life. The douche bag, the racist, the brave one, the voice of reason, they were all there.
But for me the best part was the fact that it was very unpredictable. It seemed like every time I had the film figured out, a new twist was thrown my way, which is what really made the film entertaining for me.
The Bad:
At the end of the day it is still a low budget film. For many this is fine, but for me it just seems rough around the edges which takes away a bit.
The authenticity seemed a bit off. I wish there would have been a bit more research in the firearms department, as everyone with a gun didn’t really seem to know what they were doing, and the gun choice was a bit off.
And finally the camera quality. Everything seemed shaky (for lack of better words), which at times was fine, but seemed a bit overwhelming after a while.
Conclusion:
Since I have had this blog I have gotten several low-budget, indie films to watch/review. I have watched very few of them to the end, and have never felt that one deserved my time for a review, until now. Target Practice is a very entertaining film and definitely worth the watch. While it did have some negatives (what movie doesn’t) it still is enjoyable, and something I am glad I didn’t just push aside.