D V D C R Y P T

SHOCKER

Directed & Written by Wes Craven
Cinematography by Jaques Haitkin
Music by William Goldstein
Cast: Michael Murphy, Peter Berg, Cami Cooper & Mitch Pileggi

1989/110min/Color/Dolby Surround
1.85:1 anamorphic/English/ US/NTSC Region 1

Review from Universal DVD

A serial killer, named Horace Pinker (Mitch Pileggi), is slaughtering families, left and right, terrorizing a community. Young athlete, Jonathon Parker (Peter Berg), sees his family gets killed by Pinker, in a dream, which does happen for real. He knows who he is, and what he looks like. He helps his father, a cop, (Michael Murphy) take him down, as Jonathon is connected to Pinker. Pinker angered at this takes out Jonathon’s pretty girlfriend, Alison (Cami Cooper). He is ultimately arrested and executed, but Pinker is into black magic and uses it to return to strike more terror from beyond the grave. He now has the power to possess people and take over their bodies. It is easy to recognize when he has possessed someone, because they limp like him and curse a lot! He also has the power to move through electricity (including TV shows!), he did, after all, die in an electric chair! Only the ghost of Alison and his love for her can now help our hero defeat the evil Pinker.

I have always liked this movie, ever since seeing it in the theatres as a kid. I still do, though, now, as an adult, I see it as one of the funniest, silliest times you can find! Berg is a terrible actor! This guy is the fucking pits! But, on the other hand, Mitch “The X-Files” Pileggi is just awesome as Pinker! He adds a lot the role, and makes it tons of fun. He really delivers some of the film’s best lines.

Craven obviously wanted another Freddy here, but the film was not the success he or Universal wanted, hence there were no sequels. As I said before, the film is so hilarious, sometimes intentionally, sometimes not. Either way, it is a fuckin’ riot! You have to see, to believe the little girl, who gets possessed by Pinker, and starts cursing and limping! The movie’s love can battle evil subplot is pretty corny and dumb, but in this over-the-top film, is seems almost acceptable. The climax, where our hero and villain run through various TV shows and movies, is one of the film’s truest highlights. The FX here, and in some other parts, are actually pretty good. Although, some of them are kind of dated.

SHOCKER is bought to DVD by Universal. It is presented in anamorphic widescreen. I have watched the old Universal video many times before owning this DVD, and let me tell you, this DVD is quite the improvement. The picture is rich and clear, with nice, sharp looking colors. The Dolby Surround sound is aggressive and loud. It, in particular, really captures the excellent, ass kicking heavy metal/ hard rock soundtrack, that features such killer bands as Megadeth, Iggy Pop, The Dude of Wrath (with signing by 80’s song pop-metal writer Desmond Child and Kiss’ Paul Stanley) and the Dangerous Toys.

The DVD is mostly barebones, in the extra department, though. It comes with production notes, cast and filmmaker’s bios and credits (what the hell ever happened to hottie Cami Cooper?), and the film’s own, cool trailer. I would love to have a commentary by Craven. He always has good ones, and this film, in particular, would have been to hear his thoughts on. Oh, well, whatca gonna do? Anyways, the film is broken up into 18 chapters, and comes in a keep case with am inlay card, that folds open and reveals the chapters, as well as some decent still pics.

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