Human Targets: A Rough-and-Tumble Ride Through Old West Shenanigans

“Human Targets” is one of those old Westerns you stumble upon, and it’s a quick watch if you’re into that sort of thing. If you love classic cowboy movies, the kind where the good guys wear white hats and the bad guys are just *bad*, you’ll probably find some enjoyment here. But if you need complex characters or plots that twist and turn, you might want to lasso a different film. 🤠

Right off the bat, you get the classic setup: the Dales family, down on their luck, with a sick mother needing money. It’s simple, effective. You instantly know who to root for.

Then Bart Travis shows up, having found gold, and promises to help out. Seems like a decent guy, our Bart. But of course, it can’t be that easy. Along comes Duke Remsden, who overhears the gold strike plans and decides to make things messy.

The whole mistaken identity bit is where the movie really hangs its hat. Duke, being the scoundrel he is, waylays Buzz Dale. Then he dresses up like Bart and commits a robbery and a killing. The sheriff, naturally, is hot on Bart’s trail. It all happens pretty fast, no wasted minutes.

Buzz Dale, played by Buzz Barton, is the one caught in the middle. He’s the good guy trying to clear Bart's name, which feels very urgent throughout. Barton’s energy keeps things moving, even when the plot could get a little bogged down.

The action often feels… staged, but in an endearing, old-timey way. Like, the way folks fall when they’re shot? It’s very much a product of its time. You can tell they put a lot of effort into the horse chases though. Those feel pretty spirited.

One moment, Buzz is making a break for it, then he finds the clothes Duke used to frame Bart. It happens *really* fast. There’s no real lingering on the discovery. Just, boom, he’s got 'em, and the plot can charge ahead. It's efficient, if a little abrupt.

The film doesn’t waste time with extra fluff. It gets straight to the point, which is actually kind of refreshing sometimes. You never really wonder what’s going on, even if some of the explanations are pretty thin.

I liked seeing Fred 'Snowflake' Toones in a small part. He pops up in these old films, and he always brings a little something extra, a real presence, even without a lot of lines.

The camera work is pretty basic. Lots of medium shots, not a lot of fancy angles. But hey, it gets the job done. The fight scenes are quick too. A punch, a fall. Not much choreography, but again, it’s efficient.

The pace really picks up once Buzz finds those crucial clothes. It’s like a lightbulb goes off for him, and the movie too. From that point, it’s a clear path to the climax, with the sheriff still a constant threat.

You can feel the stakes for the Dales family. That sickness element is always a good motivator for the hero, and it's used effectively here to give the entire chase a solid reason.

Sometimes the background extras look a little confused, like they weren’t quite sure where to stand or what their motivation was. It’s charming in a way, just another little quirk of older films. Caryl Lincoln, as the leading lady, she gets to look worried a lot. It’s a classic damsel role, done well enough.

The film relies heavily on the audience understanding the genre conventions. No need to explain *why* the bad guy is bad. He just *is*, and that’s perfectly fine for this kind of quick, action-packed story. The final showdown, or whatever you want to call it, it’s not some big spectacle. More like a quick, decisive moment to wrap everything up.

This is a movie that knows what it is and doesn't pretend to be anything more. It’s a solid, if unspectacular, ride through a familiar Western landscape. If you've got an hour to kill and a soft spot for these old gems, give it a shot.

• The Dales’ ranch looks like it could use a good paint job, even back then.
• One of the shots of Buzz riding, the background looks suspiciously like it's looping.
• The way Duke Remsden just appears to overhear the gold strike felt a little too convenient, didn't it?