Outrage (1973 film)

Outrage was a 1973 made for television movie that aired on the American Broadcasting Company's (ABC) popular Movie of the Week franchise.^[1] The movie, which aired on November 28, 1973, tells the story of a suburban neighborhood and family that is terrorized repeatedly by a group of privileged young men from neighboring families. The film is set in an idealized rural suburban community.

The film starred Robert Culp, Marlyn Mason and Beah Richards, and featured Nicholas Hammond, James Sikking and Thomas Leopold. The film's director was Richard T. Heffron, and the script was by writer William Wood.

The film was originally title One Angry Man.^[2] Turner Classic Movies lists the title of the film as "Outrage!" with the addition of the exclamation point.

Plot Summary

Throughout the film, Culp's character, Jim Kiler, finds himself and his family at the mercy of a group of young men from neighboring families who have singled out the Kilers after running roughshod over the greater community. While Kiler attempts at first to reason with the youths, their response is to step up the attacks on the family, which grow more emboldened and dangerous as the film continues. Kiler and his wife eventually feel that in addition to their personal safety, that the youths are also trying to tempt their young daughter into situations that would harm her.

Kiler tries to talk to the parents of the young men. However the parents of the youths either refuse to believe that their sons are capable of their actions, or blame Culp's character for aggravating the situation. The parents of the youths are also self-absorbed in their own issues and resent Kiler's suggestions that they are at fault for their sons inability to tell right from wrong. Local law enforcement officials are unable and/or unwilling to become involved. Kiler and his family find themselves surrounded by people refusing to take action, or in denial that Kiler's claims are as dire as he says.

As the family finds itself reaching a point where a resolution has been found, the youths launch an attack on the family, which injures a member of the household. This action finally prompts the rational, logical Kiler to abandon his principles and take matters into his out hands as his outrage reaches the breaking point.

The film leaves the viewer with the sense that even though Kiler was able to avenge his family's torment by attacking the youth's, his inability to control his own anger is a defeat for the rationally minded, civilized middle-class family. In the end, no one wins because violence has led to violence, and the feelings of satisfaction at seeing the youths given a dose of their own medicine is a feeling that is short lived once the initial thrill is over.

Use of the word "outrage"

The film uses the word "outrage" in various ways, both as a single word title, and a metaphore for human behavior. The youths that torment the community and the Kiler family exhibit their outrage at civil norms in their selfish and destructive behavior. The Kiler's are "outraged" by the parents of these young men because in addition to spoiling their children, they seemingly do not care about their behaviors. The youth's final action, seriously harming a member of the Kiler family is an "outrageous" example of senseless crime. And finally, upon seeing what has happened to a member of the household, Kiler's "outrage" at the youths is unleashed when he takes revenge as his only weapon left.

See also

• Outrage, 1973, IMDB

References