*** May contain spoilers ****Definitely contains criticism****I won't go into the specifics of the movie, as several other reviewers have done a good job of that already. The film work was OK, but the dialogue and plot needed some serious work on it, because a lot of it doesn't make sense. For a start, there was no tactical reason for the terrorists to target the group. None of them were near the camp, and a simple Road Closed sign, along with a couple of trees across the road would have sufficed to deter casual travelers. Killing 5 men has a very high risk of discovery - yet they engaged them nonetheless. Not very tactical. And are we to believe that 'secret' training camps have well established gravel roads leading to them ?Although they're being hunted, all the characters gob off like they are in a busy Starbucks, instead of being in a valley where sound will carry for miles.One of the survivors, showing complete unfamiliarity around firearms (and common sense), is still able to kill several trained terrorists. Despite telling the CIA agent he doesn't trust him, he continues to keep him around, instead of taking the gun, and then leaving him behind. Why ? It just doesn't make sense.I'm not sure what point the director was trying to make, but two of the three survivors are so obnoxious in the first 5 minutes (and continued to be), I was disappointed they weren't killed in the initial ambush. In fact, the lack of empathy for the characters and their plight gave me little reason to finish watching this movie. I really could not care less if any of them survived or not. In the end, I turned it off because I could not suspend disbelief long enough to persevere. I appreciate I may not be the target audience (excuse the pun) but if you have a love for indie films, and can tolerate poor dialogue, leading characters who are whiny morons, and can see gems where others see flaws, you may enjoy this because the film work is decent, even if the script needs some vigorous polishing.

Rich Riedel's promising directorial debut should please action fans and art-house connisseurs alike.Riedel's primary experience is in editing, and it shows. The story is paced expertly to build up the maximum tension possible.The acting is a bit uneven but there are some very strong performances here, notably from Eltony Williams.The indie film world doesn't produce a whole lot of action films, so it's important to recognize the talents that do emerge so that they find success. An action film world populated solely by directors who came up through the studio system isn't what anyone needs. Riedel has a bright future.

I can see why this one divides people. No robots, massive explosions, or big-name stars. Just relentless mounting tension and a surprisingly intelligent script dealing with the scary topic of terrorist training camps in our own backyards. A group of friends head off into the mountains on a weekend fishing trip, already at odds with each other over a variety of issues, ranging from mundane things like stopping for bathroom breaks to more serious arguments over racial prejudice. When they almost run into a vehicle that's been left on the side of a mountain road, the argument becomes whether they should stop to see if anyone needs their help or just keep going.They end up doing the good samaritan thing and it costs them big time; minutes after stopping, they find themselves the targets of a bloody ambush and the survivors are running for their lives through the forest. From that point on, the characters are battling for survival, trying to figure out who's hunting them down, and why, and facing a series of increasingly nerve-wracking, horrific discoveries. The level of suspense that the film generates is, at times, staggering.The camera-work may be off-putting to some. It's not herky-jerky as in the Bourne movies, but it moves restlessly, picking out a subtle hand movement here, a nervous flitter of someone's eye there. And for the most part, the actors are previously undiscovered newcomers, which is to be expected in an ultra-independent film like this (ala "Blair Witch" or "Paranormal Activity"), but they're all very good. A couple of them are excellent, and there are some unexpectedly touching moments of genuine emotion between them.If you need your toys to have lots of noisy whistles and blinking lights and to come in big boxes with shiny red ribbons, this one probably isn't for you. If you like your action films to be a little more well-developed, edgy, and thought-provoking, you'll really appreciate this tense little trip into the woods.

This is a terrific picture with great action, suspense, and atmosphere.Director Rich Riedel not only understands the impact of flashy, noisy gun play, he also gets the importance of silence as an almost unbearable agent of tension. Excellent performances by all of the cast. And a brilliant use of location where he transforms the great outdoors into Hell. I first saw this picture as an Executive Board member for one of the many festivals that screened it. Board enthusiasm for TARGET PRACTICE was robust and unanimous, and the film was a huge audience favorite. See it!