Fictionalized portrait of a real-life sociopath and killer from Arizona (nicknamed "The Pied Piper of Tucson"), a 23-year-old dropout from reality who easily enchanted all the bored, feckless teenagers hanging out at the local high school and community swimming pool. Robert F. Lyons is quite persuasive as the seductive charmer, disassociated from reality and living off his mother (Barbara Bel Geddes, who enables his freeloader lifestyle). He enjoys playing big brother and lover to the misfit kids in his stifling suburb (it feeds his ego) and, after killing a girl because he "had nothing else to do," he has no trouble getting a few of the teens to help him cover up his crime. Richard Thomas is somewhat miscast as a hitchhiker Lyons takes under his wing (Thomas is intrinsically too bright to play this antisocial rube), but the supporting cast is excellent, particularly Bel Geddes, Gloria Grahame as Thomas' mother, Edward Asner and Michael Conrad. It's a technically assured picture, but one which is ultimately uneasy as a dramatic entertainment. Was it intended as a warning film? Rather, it's an exercise in glamorously dangerous narcissism--the disaffected youth too cool for society. ** from ****

Caustic and sullen, yet crafty and charismatic psychopathic misanthrope Skipper Todd (superbly played with magnetic cool by Robert F. Lyons) kills a few lovely teenage lasses strictly for the sick kick of it in a sleepy small California town. Several severely alienated local youths help Skipp cover up his heinous crimes.Director Barry Shear astutely nails a strong feeling of adolescent malaise, aimlessness, and pure unadulterated nihilism. The bitter and daring script by Joel Oliansky and Dennis Murphy boldly explores the darker aspects of American culture that include fear of aging (Skipper's mom runs an old folks home), obsession with preserving youth for perpetuity (the 23-year-old Skipper refuses to get a job and avidly pursues underage girls in an attempt to stave off encroaching adulthood), misguided (anti)-hero worship, and the impossibly high and unattainable standards perpetuated by the alluring, but frustratingly evasive American dream. The sterling acting by a top-rate cast helps a whole lot, with especially stand-out contributions from Richard Thomas as naive and awkward hang-on Billy Roy, Belinda Montgomery as the saucy and enticing Roberta, Sherry Miles as the ditsy Amata, Holly Near as fawning groupie Norma, James Broderick as perceptive English teacher Sam Goodwin, Barbara Bel Geddes as Skipper's stern mother, Gloria Grahame as the worn-out Mrs. Roy, Fay Spain as the distraught Mrs. Mack, Edward Asner as imposing bigwig Fred Readon, and Michael Conrad as a hard-nosed detective. Leonard Rosenman's moody score further adds to the overall discomfiting tone. Harold E. Stine's sharp widescreen cinematography provides an excitingly vibrant look. Unsettling for sure, but definitely potent and gripping just the same.

Very cool 1970 character study of a pseudo-hippy turned serial killer. From the first 5 minutes, you know you're in for a treat. Barry Shear directs with real vigor, favoring tight close-ups and odd angles. There are many nice touches, particularly the swimming pool scene and the amazing opener. Robert F. Lyons gives a very funny, realistic performance as Skipper Todd; the big-fish-in-a-small-pond woman(girl!)izing hipster who is really the ultimate misanthrope. The scenes with his liberal, 'understanding' mother (who even unknowingly defends him against the mother of a girl he murdered!) are especially poignant. The movie is rife with political commentary also, for instance when Skipper's lawyer suggests he blame his killing spree on LSD and the fact that the kids in town still idolize him after he's found out. It features a tremendous script and great supporting roles from Barbara Bel Geddes(Vertigo), Gloria Grahame (The Big Heat) and a bit part from Michael Conrad (Un Flic, Hill Street Blues). Recommended.

I did not really care for this movie too much. I found it to be a little gross-a twenty three year old man consorting with high school girls...where in the heck were the parents....And also to enlighten future viewers, Richard Thomas does NOT do a frontal nude scene, he doesn't even take off his shirt. The frontal nude is done by Robert Lyons and personally I think he should have left his clothes on. It really was not necessary. But you can judge for yourself if you stay with this big disappointment that long.