Target

Target

Year: 1985

Runtime: 117 min

Language: English

Director: Arthur Penn

ActionAdventureDramaMysteryThrillerCrime

As their union teeters on the brink of collapse, Nick and Laura Gates face a gut-wrenching decision: to surrender to temptation or fight for the love that once bound them.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Target (1985)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Target (1985). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1980s

Set during the Cold War, the film depicts a world of spies, double agents, and covert operations. Central characters race through international travel corridors—from Paris to Berlin—against a backdrop of surveillance and geopolitical tension. The era’s paranoia shapes every choice, with loyalty tested by hidden agendas and high-stakes betrayals.

Location

Paris, Dallas, Hamburg, East Berlin, West Berlin

The story unfolds across several major cities: Paris anchors the kidnapping discovery, Dallas provides the home-front search, and Berlin’s divided streets drive the chase through East and West zones. The urban landscape amplifies tension with busy airports, crowded stations, and perilous crossings. The shifting settings keep the pursuit fluid and dangerous, as characters cross borders to stay ahead of their pursuers.

🗺️ International settings 🧭 Cold War backdrop 🏙️ Urban espionage

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:14

Main Characters – Target (1985)

Meet the key characters of Target (1985), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Walter Lloyd

A former CIA operative, Walter is resourceful and cool under pressure. His deep protectiveness for his wife Donna pushes him to chase danger across continents, revealing a man who trusts few people and relies on past training to stay ahead of pursuers. His suspicion of a larger conspiracy keeps the mission personal and tense.

🕵️ Spy 🧭 Strategist 💔 Family

Donna Lloyd

Donna’s kidnapping sets the clock ticking and motivates the international pursuit. She becomes a catalyst whose peril tests the family’s resolve and exposes the shadowy fringes of Cold War espionage. Her fate intertwines personal risk with the broader political intrigue.

💔 Kidnapping 🧭 Key figure 🕯️ Mystery

Chris Lloyd

Chris is a college-age son who challenges danger with courage and improvisation. He grows from a concerned son into an active participant in the escape and rescue efforts, crossing into East Berlin to help uncover the truth. His bold decisions, including a risky personal encounter, drive crucial plot turns.

👨‍👦 Family 🧭 Adventure 🕵️‍♂️ Courage

Schroeder

Schroeder is the elusive agent whose past and coded ‘Mendelssohn’ signals reveal a deeper conspiracy. He embodies the murky loyalties of the era, suggesting a personal vendetta that transcends teams. His reappearance and final sacrifice reveal the true costs of playing both sides.

🧭 Espionage ⚔️ Rivalry 🗡️ Sacrifice

Carla

A backpacker who intersects with Chris and Walter, Carla carries danger and tension into the central pursuit. She tests loyalties, introduces romantic tension, and becomes entangled in the crossfire that defines the chase across borders. Her presence keeps the plot unpredictable and morally ambiguous.

🧭 Adventure 💖 Romance 🕵️‍♀️ Intrigue

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:14

Major Themes – Target (1985)

Explore the central themes of Target (1985), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Espionage

Espionage drives the plot: coded names, covert operations, and constant surveillance blur friend and foe. The pursuit spans multiple continents, revealing how information becomes a weapon and trust is a scarce commodity. Betrayal, manipulation by agencies, and the search for truth create a tense, globe-trotting cat-and-mouse game.

👨‍👦 Family

A father-and-son bond under pressure fuels the mission to rescue Donna and expose the truth. The danger of espionage presses on a personal level, forcing choices that endanger both family and country. The story uses family ties to humanize the gray morality of intelligence work and to ground the thriller in emotional stakes.

🗡️ Betrayal

Betrayal runs through key alliances: a double agent within the CIA, assassinations, and a web of conflicting loyalties. The revelation of Taber’s betrayal and Schroeder’s past tragedy exposes how trust is exploited for power. The final explosions crystallize the cost of secrets kept and secrets kept hidden.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:14

Unlock the Full Story of Target

Don't stop at just watching — explore Target in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Target is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Target Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Target, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Target Summary

Target Timeline

Track the full timeline of Target with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Target Timeline

More About Target

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Target: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Target

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