Tower
Tower

Movie spotlight

Tower

2016
Movie
82 min
English

Combining archival footage with rotoscopic animation, Tower reveals the action-packed untold stories of the witnesses, heroes and survivors of America’s first mass school shooting, when the worst in one man brought out the best in so many others.

Insights

IMDb7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes92%
Metacritic78/100
Google Users90%
Director: Keith MaitlandGenres: Documentary, Crime, History

Plot Summary

Tower is a captivating documentary that uses rotoscope animation to recount the tragic events of August 1, 1966, when a sniper climbed to the top of the University of Texas Tower and opened fire on innocent people below. The film meticulously reconstructs the 96-minute ordeal, highlighting the bravery of ordinary citizens who became heroes and the devastating impact of the senseless violence. It explores the chain of events that led to the shooting and its lasting effects on the community and the nation.

Critical Reception

Tower was widely acclaimed by critics and audiences for its innovative storytelling, powerful emotional impact, and important historical significance. Reviewers praised its unique use of animation to bring a harrowing event to life while focusing on the human element and the courageous acts of those involved. The film was lauded for its sensitive handling of a difficult subject matter and its ability to evoke both horror and hope.

What Reviewers Say

  • A powerful and innovative documentary that masterfully blends animation and archival footage.

  • A deeply moving tribute to the victims and heroes of the University of Texas shooting.

  • A significant historical account that feels both urgent and essential.

Google audience: Viewers found Tower to be a deeply affecting and important film. Many praised its unique animation style, which made the historical events feel immediate and personal. Audiences were particularly moved by the focus on the bravery of ordinary people who acted heroically during the tragedy. The documentary was frequently described as a respectful and powerful memorial to the victims.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Television at the 2017 Primetime Emmy Awards, Won Grand Jury Prize: Documentary at the 2016 SXSW Film Festival, Won Audience Award: Documentary at the 2016 SXSW Film Festival, Won Best Documentary at the 2016 Gotham Independent Film Awards, Won IDA Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 2016 International Documentary Association Awards.

Fun Fact

The rotoscope animation technique used in 'Tower' was chosen to allow the filmmakers to represent the emotional and psychological impact of the shooting in a way that traditional documentary footage might not have been able to.

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TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
Reno

Reno

**About the first such incident in the US history.** It was like another documentary film that I saw one last week. But this time it was an even bigger scale. This, the original event took place exactly 50 years ago and first of its kind...