Screen icon Gene Hackman (The Package, Narrow Margin) and Matt Dillon (My Bodyguard, Rumble Fish) are the distant father and son suddenly swept into a world of international intrigue in this action-packed spy thriller. Texas teenager Chris Lloyd (Dillon) finds his father Walter (Hackman) unremarkable, ordinary…and sometimes exasperating. But with his mother’s mysterious disappearance in Paris, Chris finds himself entangled in a sprawling web of suspense, danger and deception. Determined to find her, father and son must put aside their differences and begin a deadly race against time in an odyssey across Europe. Twists and turns abound as family drama meets espionage action-adventure in this third collaboration between the legendary Hackman and director Arthur Penn (Bonnie and Clyde, Night Moves). With Gayle Hunnicutt (P.J.) and Josef Summer (Witness).

For thoughts on Target (1985), please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Target debuts on Blu-Ray with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1 from what is not promoted as a new master that showcases the movie pretty well. Clarity and detail are in fine shape, and skin tones are natural with some distinct facial features apparent in closeup. Colors are one of the more commendable elements of the transfer with good saturation. Black levels are slightly milky with crush becoming a fleeting issue in some of the shadows. The presentation does have some softer shots and quite a bit of lingering minor specks of damage that are not too intrusive. The release does not appear to be hindered by digital tinkering. The natural film grain of the presentation is present and resolves favorably. This presentation from Kino Classics does the trick for those who have been waiting for it.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio track that handles the material fairly well. Dialogue comes through clearly without allowing itself to be overshadowed by environmental elements. Sounds such as the roar of the car engine or instances of gunfire are rendered well throughout this journey. The score establishes the mood of the narrative, and it holds a strong place within the mix. The surround sound mix does not greatly expand the mix, instead, it simply adds a bit of texture to the space. We did not spot any signs of significant age-related wear and tear or distortion that might impede this track. This is a fine representation of the film. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Entertainment Journalists/Authors Bryan Reesman and Max Evry provide a great commentary track in which they discuss the production of the film, how director Arthur Penn felt about making the film, the background of the performers, real-world parallels to this story, the shooting locations, the background details, and so much more.

Trailers: This disc provides the nearly minute-and-a-half-long trailer for Target. There are also trailers provided for Prime Cut, Mississippi Burning, The Package, Narrow Margin, and Company Business.

Final Thoughts

Target is not the best film from anyone involved, but it works pretty well as an intriguing spy thriller led by some very talented performers. There are some pretty effective chase sequences that will get your blood pumping, and a classic bomb detonation trope is executed to good effect. The script is somewhat predictable and sags at points, but this film does more right than wrong. Kino Classics has brought this one to Blu-Ray with a pretty solid A/V presentation and a couple of special features. If you like any of the talent involved, it is worth a look. Recommended

Target is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.