Turm des Schreckens

In the 1960s, shooting people from elevated positions was a popular pastime in Texas, so it’s no surprise that the first mass shooting on a school campus occurred here. Jerry Jameson's docudrama offers a few seconds of tension before the shooter is dealt with and a grimly humorous look at the availability of means to carry out murderous plans, but it either fails to engage with the characters or neglects them entirely. The producer's push for a positive portrayal of Mexican Americans was more counterproductive, much like Luthor’s sidekick in Superman. And there are a few glaring absurdities. I can totally picture Grissom’s CSI team reaching the top of the tower, and while stretching the ropes to simulate the trajectory of bullets from civilian weapons returning fire (hey, we’re in Texas), just shaking their heads in disbelief. (28.04.2023)