Shock

Wow. What a cool horror film. For the first five minutes I honestly thought it was going to be a shoddy, low budget, run-of-the-mill 70's spook movie. Boy, was i wrong. This is actually a very intense, highly imaginative, gripping shocker. The slyly brilliant set-up of the film is that it gradually and steadily builds and builds and builds. I started sweating and gripping the armrest of the chair. It was that effective. The basic plot is that a woman (the lovely Daria Nicolodi), recently released from a mental institution, moves back into her old home, along with her current husband and young son. Now for the "bad idea" department: This is the same house where her first husband committed suicide. Anyway, things begin to get weird in a gradually malevolent and unsettling way. Is the son possessed by the spirit of the dead husband? Is the house itself evil? Does the current husband hold any deep and dark secrets? As all of these dynamics slowly unfold, the film steadily gets creepier and creepier. In fact, I'm getting gooseflesh just writing this review. Although the first few minutes of the film do seem to be cheaply made, you simply have to stick with it. I was dismayed for a moment, but only at the very beginning, and I am so glad I stayed with it. One of the many cool things about this movie is that the effects are incredibly simple, with obviously no CGI, but I guarantee that they will scare the hell out of you. Just the opening of a door, or the movement of a ceramic hand, will have you tossing your popcorn in the air. And, as other reviewers have noted, there is a scene close to the end, with the little boy running down a hall, that will make you gasp. But I also got really creeped-out by the silently "floating" furniture at the very end -- especially the antique wardrobe that sways and slides with malevolent force. Also, it is very interesting that this movie essentially has only three people in it: The husband, wife, and child. Well... maybe four if you count the dead spouse. It is very impressive that director Mario Bava (and his son, Lamberto) use their tremendous skills to keep you both engrossed and scared, with only three characters in the film. And kudos here to Daria Nicolodi, who is "run through the ringer" by this movie; she's thrown around, suspended upside down, attacked by a garden rake (!), and repeatedly bruised and bloodied. It was obviously a very tough role for her. The music, by Goblin side-project Libra, is highly effective. It is chilling and powerful at the same time. The film's style, overall, almost seems like a blending of Bava with Dario Argento; the movie is clearly at the crossroads between old-school suggested chills and atmosphere, and the more modern shocks you would find in Argento's Deep Red (1975). The lighting and cinematography, although a little harsh and grainy at times, actually are a good match for the film. They add to the foreboding atmosphere, as well as the gritty shocks. It's a shame that this film isn't better known. It's tight, intense, a little sexy, and very scary and ominous. I was seriously creeped-out and unsettled. There are dark revelations at every turn. This is a haunting film, ranking right up there with Bava's Black Sabbath (1964). Highly recommended.

Somehow I missed this movie when it first came out in the late '70s, though I remember hearing about it. That's too bad, because this film is a gem! Very good script, performances and score (the spooky cues are the best). There are 2 or 3 moments that are so well done and unexpected, you will all but jump out of your seat. There's a haunting, a mystery and a descent into madness all blended together expertly. The cast is good, with John Steiner a particular treat - he brings an earthy appeal to all of his scenes, and even treats us to a fully nude make-out moment with his leading lady. The image is flawless, clear with beautiful color timing. Sound is good and menu easy to navigate. Price was very reasonable, I thought. Great for backyard movie night - give it a try!

"SHOCK" was Italian director Mario Bava's last film. Retitled as "Beyond the Door II" for it's original US release, Anchor Bay's new DVD features a widescreen print of the film under it's original title. (Actually, the sharp noise the film makes when the title hits the screen made me jump in "shock"!) It's a fun little possession movie and features several very creepy moments...the standout being the shot where the possessed little boy runs up to his Mom (Daria Nicolodi) and suddenly turns into the ghost of her dead husband...all done without effects or cgi. All in all, the film doesn't really break any new ground, but it's a worthy last film from the original italian horror maestro. The print shows some grain and some visual noise (mostly in the dark scenes)...it's not bad, but it is not up to par with earlier AB titles. Extras include a short but interesting interview with Lamberto Bava, the international trailer, and a couple of US tv spots (one as a double-bill with "The Dark"!), plus the usual talent bios. A pretty basic package, but definitely a Must for Bava fans.

Item was exactly as described & arrived on time

I went into this with low expectations but ended up loving it. Great performances and beautifully shot. Nice little mystery element to this one. Loved it. Great movie

Great Highly Recommended!

This film has some truly hilarious moments in it. I don't watch horror to be frightened, so I can't comment on that. But dear Lord is this film uproarious. It contains a scene I will never unsee. Give it a try!

Somewhat Disappointing; Not What I Thought It Would and Shoukd Be....!

Me encanta. Viene con muy buen contenido de documentales y entrevistas.

Excellent film trop méconnu, le dernier (je crois) du grand Bava. Atmosphère prenante, superbes acteurs... Malaise, nous sommes loin de l'esthétisme magique -les fameuses couleurs !- des grands classiques du cinéaste. Beaucoup de plaisir à revoir cette oeuvre tout simplement belle dans sa tristesse crépusculaire. PLONGEZ !

Hervorragende Veröffentlichung des Spätwerks von Mario Bava in Topqualität von Bild und Ton. Ein spannender Film mit viel Bonusmaterial. Gelungene Mischung aus Thriller, Grusel und Drama mit sehr guten Schauspielern. Ton in englisch oder italienisch mit englischen Untertiteln.

First of all, the B.U. release is a region 0 , so it should play on a UK player - it plays on mine. Shock's got to be my favourite ghost/possession movie. Unlike the Exorcist with its religious mumbo-jumbo, or J- and K-horror with the convoluted plots, this is straightforward (dead husband would like his wife to follow him because...) but rewards the viewer for paying attention. For instance the ceramic hand that is highlighted early on, every time we see it for the first half hour, it's actually changed position facing the other way! A bit unlikely that this was by mistake. Genuinely creepy throughout, and more than two hair-raising moments that do not look cheap, because Bava's direction is masterful. The only let down is the music. A really annoying happy theme that comes on too often and is out of place. And the dabbing, of course, as is always the case with Italian horror movies...

Todo excelente solo que no se escucha me dice que puede ser error de la editoral ya que el menú y extras si se escuchan