THE TODD KILLINGS
Surely one the major feel-bad movies of recent times, THE
TODD KILLINGS can be called the anti-BREAKFAST CLUB. This
all-too-convincing story concerns a young murderer's influence on a
group impressionable teens
definitely not John Hughes fare. Made in 1970 and mostly forgotten
today, THE TODD KILLINGS remains an intelligent and convincing example
of the "teens from Hell" cycle of films (1986's
RIVER'S EDGE, 1995's KIDS, etc).
The Package
For many viewers this film will be difficult to take,
if not for the violence (most of which takes place offscreen) then for
its unrelentingly nihilistic view of adolescence. THE TODD KILLINGS
opens with a familiar caption: "This story is true
only the names have been changed to protect the innocent." We've
heard it all before and we've learned to disbelieve it every time, but
in this case the disclaimer is true: the events of the film were
inspired by the real-life crimes of Charles Schmidt, the "Pied Piper of
Tuscon" (who also inspired the superlative
THE LOST).
Outdated fashions aside, the film is just as relevant
today--perhaps even more so--than it was in 1970. In fact, I'd go
so far as to say that THE TODD KILLINGS was actually ahead of its time
rather than a product of it.
The Story
In THE TODD KILLINGS we are introduced
to Skipper Todd, a charismatic twenty-three year old who leads a group of
teenagers astray. He functions as the local drug supplier as well as the
resident Casanova. Skipper arranges parties and has a carefree, thrill-seeking
attitude that the kids find irresistible. Unfortunately, he's also a sociopath;
he kills a young girl "to see what it would feel like." In spite of this, the
local teenage populace bands together to help him escape detection. Three kids
even help him hide the body. Needless to say, adults begin to grow suspicious
and Skipper's world is brought crashing down, but not before he kills again. In
the film's unforgettable final moments, several teenagers turn on the young man
who reported Skipper to the authorities, screaming, "You finked on him!"
It's a well-plotted story, told in near-documentary
fashion. Abandoning traditional screenplay structure, screenwriters Dennis
Murphy and Joel Oliansky develop their tale through a series of
emotionally-charged sequences, capturing the shiftless, fragmented existence
that Skipper and his disciples lead.
The Direction
Director Barry Shear's film previous to THE TODD
KILLINGS was WILD IN THE STREETS, a movie aimed squarely at the then-burgeoning
youth market. With THE TODD KILLINGS he made a 180-degree turn. This is almost
an anti-teenage movie, one which decries the young generation's lack of
motivation and herd mentality. Shear shows an assured hand with the actors,
coaxing top-notch performances out of the youthful cast. Sadly, this was to be
one of Shear's last quality productions; he spent most of the remainder of his
career directing mediocre made-for-TV movies.
Vital Statistics
THE TODD KILLINGS
National General Pictures
Director: Barry Shear
Producer: Barry Shear
Executive Producer: Walter Wood
Screenplay: Dennis Murphy and Joel Oliansky
Cinematographer: Harold E. Stine
Editor: Walter Thompson
Cast: Robert F. Lyons, Richard Thomas, Belinda Montgomery, Sherry Miles, Joyce
Ames, Holly Near, James Broderick, Gloria Grahame, Barbara Del Geddes
