Shock – DVD Review

Archive, Film, Reviews


(Credit: Amazon.com)

Directed by
Alfred L. Werker

Cast:
Vincent Price …. Dr. Richard Cross
Lynn Bari …. Elaine Jordan
Frank Latimore …. Lt. Paul Stewart
Anabel Shaw …. Janet Stewart
Stephen Dunne …. Dr. Stevens
Reed Hadley …. O’Neill
Renee Carson …. Mrs. Hatfield
Charles Trowbridge …. Dr. Franklin Harvey


The Movie:

Before he became the finest actor working in schlock Horror cinema, Vincent Price was considered a fine actor. Usually playing villains within the Hollywood studio system, he often starred in Film Noirs such as the classic Laura in 1944 or 1947’s The Web. These films showcased Price’s amazing acting talent while still utilizing his looks, which gave him a menacing appeal.

One such example is 1946’s Shock. In the film, Price plays Dr. Richard Cross, the head of a psychiatric hospital near San Francisco. He’s treating a woman named Janet Stewart (Anabel Shaw), who’s gone into shock after witnessing a murder. Unfortunately for her the murder she witnessed was perpetrated by the good doctor himself.

This is a terrific role for Price as Cross isn’t necessarily an evil man; he did murder his wife but without any premeditation. She was going to expose an affair he was having, which would’ve ruined his reputation. His dedication to the Hippocratic Oath makes things difficult for him, as Janet Stewart was the only witness to the murder as well as the only one who could potentially bring him down. It’s fascinating to watch him work as Cross struggles with all of this.

Adding to the tension is a terrific performance by Lynn Bari as Elaine Jordan, the film’s resident femme fatale and Dr. Cross’s mistress. She constantly has to do a balancing act between pretending to be a wholesome nurse in public and trying to convince Dr. Cross to kill his potentially dangerous patient in private. Bari is able to really pull off Cross’s sultry lover without having to rely on sexy outfits or innuendo, which is common in the genre. She actually comes off as the most evil person in the entire film, coldly pushing Cross toward homicide.

Much of the film’s success comes from its atmosphere, which can be attributed to Director Alfred L. Werker and the brilliant cinematography by Joseph MacDonald and Glen MacWilliams. In classic Noir fashion, the film makers make great use of lightning and shadows, as the psychiatric ward becomes a house of horrors at one point during a terrible rain storm. Other scenes are gorgeously orchestrated, such as a pivotal exchange between Price and Bari, when Jordan is attempting to seduce her lover into killing Janet Stewart by making him reminisce about their first experiences together. At the end of the scene, Price is sitting in the dark, lit only by firelight, a broken man trying desperately to hold on to his last shred of decency. The lighting in this scene is just as important as everything Price is doing.

The only problem is that the material is really only good for maybe a television episode’s worth of material; Shock is only able to barely stretch it out for a feature length running time. Shock is a one trick pony, held together by strong atmospherics and good performances, but the film does boast a bevy of good performances even if the screenplay and plot let them down. Shock won’t ever go down as one of the best Film Noirs ever, but it is a highly watchable one made with wonderful skill.

Score:7.5/10


The DVD:

The Video
The video is passable. There are no major flaws and the picture never seems too degraded. The film is presented in its original aspect of 1:33.1 Fullscreen.

The Audio
The audio is also in good condition. This film’s sound probably never awe inspiring, but the DVD doesn’t worsen the experience in any way.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio Commentary, Trailers.

Commentary by Director Lewis Teague – This is one of the most talkative commentaries ever put on disc. Teague must be a marvelous film historian, because he is nonstop with the trivia and factoids throughout this track. Teague barely stops to even take a breath, as the little tidbits about Price and other members of the cast come fast and furious.

Fox Film Noir – This is a great group of trailers and I’m glad Fox put these on here just in case I’m dying to see more Noir (which will happen every once in a while).

Score:5/10

InsidePulse’s Ratings for Shock
CATEGORY
RATING
(OUT OF 10)
THE MOVIE

7.5
THE VIDEO

7.5
THE AUDIO

7
THE EXTRAS

5
REPLAY VALUE

7
OVERALL
7
(NOT AN AVERAGE)

The Inside Pulse
Shock is an entertaining Film Noir, but not much more. Price and the other cast memebers act up a storm, even if the material leaves them out to dry. The disc itself is light on extras, but the commentary is very good and quite informative.

Robert Sutton feels the most at home when he's watching some movie scumbag getting blown up, punched in the face, or kung fu'd to death, especially in that order. He's a founding writer for the movies section of Insidepulse.com, featured in his weekly column R0BTRAIN's Badass Cinema as well as a frequent reviewer of DVDs and Blu-rays. Also, he's a proud Sony fanboy, loves everything Star Wars and Superman related and hopes to someday be taken seriously by his friends and family.