Combat Shock

Rating:
Summary: Low Budget? How About No Budget?
Review: Well, our friends at Troma have done it again. "Combat Shock" is a grimy, unflinching look at the effects of war that left me feeling unclean. In a word, I loved it! Definitely not for the faint of heart, this depressing little gem is like a wart on the rear end of the movie industry which, when you think of it, is really saying something. The entire cast looks like they were found standing on line waiting for unemployment checks back in 1974. I found it much more enjoyable than dreck like "Saving Private Ryan." Loses one star for depressing the hell out of me.

Rating:
Summary: Surprising great movie
Review: When you buy a movie from Troma, you would expect the usual ingredients (T&A, gross-out humor, explicit violence, bad acting). If you're expecting that out of Combat Shock, you will be disappointed. Combat Shock is a surprisingly great film despite its low budget. Like other films before it, it deals with life after Vietnam.

The story centers a day in the life around Frankie, a Vietnam vet living in poverty in New York City. He returned after being a POW for a number of years. He has a wife, who always nags him about their living conditions and him being unemployed, and a son who is deformed due to Agent Orange. They basically live in the slums. To make matters worse, Frankie owes a local thug and his cronies money. After an argument with his wife, he goes out walking around New York, disgusted with what he sees. His journey in Vietnam will result in tragedy for him and his family.

Combat Shock was made by Buddy Giovinazzo on a low (extremely low) shoe-string budget. The opening sequences were stock footage from Vietnam. Even the "battlefield" was filmed basically in someone's backyard. Buddy's brother Ricky starred in the leading role as Frankie and even was behind the film's score, which can grow on you in a bad or good way. Basically, everyone who was from New York was in the film(the director himself, students from a local college in New York, people who worked behind the camera, family members, friends, etc.).

One thing that distinguishes Combat Shock from other Troma films is the film itself. Like I said earlier, it doesn't contain the usual stuff that an average Troma fan like myself would expect from other films (The Toxic Avenger flims, Sgt. Kabukiman, NYPD, Class of Nuke 'Em High films, etc.). It is more of a psychological film focusing on a man who is soul searching as to how he got himself into the mess he is in now.
Eveything around him is decaying (childhood friend of his is on drugs, local thug running the city, young girls prostituting). Even the scene when he calls his father is sad as to how his life has been after returning from Vietnam. Buddy G did a great job with this and basically created a gem that was heavily censored (and rightfully so) due to its content, particularly with the ending. It is unfortunate that he doesn't direct films like this anymore.

Another great thing with this DVD release is the interesting commentary with Buddy G and fellow director Jörg Buttgereit. It is very amazing that he can still remember the film being made (remember, he is a New Yorker). After you finish watching the movie, you can just start over and select the commentary and believe me, you will not be bored.

The first time I watched Combat Shock, I felt cheated and was ready to put it on amazon.com for sale. But looking at it again, I was amazed. Either you like it or don't. If you can get past some of the loopholes, you will be OK. Just give this film a view.