Rating: 
Summary: WES CRAVEN...
Review: WES CRAVEN REALLY MISSED WITH THIS ONE. I WATCHED IT AND IT REALLY DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME. I THOUGHT IT WAS KIND OF STUPID AND SHUT IT OFF IN THE MIDDLE.
Rating: 
Summary: An underrated classic!
Review: Wes Craven's renown for many of his classic horror films, but Shocker is one of his better movies, despite getting little accord from most critics. It's got great thrills throughout, especially considering that the psychotic Horace Pinker (played by then-unknown Mitch Pileggi) can transform his spirit into other people to do his bidding, including at one unnerving point a police officer. This is a horror film for sure, but there are also some elements of dark humor thrown in for good measure. As if Pinker's unhinged persona wasn't a captivating proposition enough, "Shocker" even features cameos by Timothy Leary, Eugene Chadbourne (of underground band Shockabilly, oddly enough) and the godlike John Tesh. I couldn't ask for much more than that. The budget for this film, in retrospect, does appear to have been somewhat low, but it only enhances the experience, giving it a street-level power. It's like comparing a lean 1980s Megadeth album to a one of the more recent, bloated Metallica albums. (Speaking of which, Megadeth offers up a pretty rocking rendition of an Alice Cooper song in the soundtrack; Iggy Pop and Paul Stanley contribute some songs as well.) Those high-production 1990s weren't a very good time for horror films anyway. Although this is an oversimplification, consider "Shocker" to be an indie-ish alternative to the glossy self-consciousness that's marred the horror genre of late. It should also be noted that the 1998 movie "Fallen" lifted more than one plot device from this film, so it's not like this film went unnoticed upon release. I'd definitely recommend that you buy "Shocker," or, if you're unsure, at the very least rent it. You will then know your destiny.
Rating: 
Summary: Too Long
Review: Wes Craven's shocker may look good, but it isn't! The movie is nearly 2 hours long and is so drawn out that interest will fade in about half an hour. The Gore factor is almost non-existant: unlike Wes' Nightmare on Elmstreet, Shocker cuts away right when the person is being killed and then cuts back when the job is done. Another irritating thing is that every ten minutes someone says "No more mister nice guy" which makes absolutely no sense in the movie considering that Pinker has always been a killer. The only reason why I gave this movie 3 stars is because of Mitch Puligi, because he gives a great performance and speeds the movie up.
Rating:
Summary: TV Is Hazardous To Your Health
Review: When Wes Craven first released "A Nightmare On Elm Street" back in 1984, he may or may not of known how the world of dreams would impact his career from this point on. This film, which came out in 1989, continues to follow the dream trend he created in his work with his classic "Elm Street". And, sadly, it doesn't hit the jackpot. After Craven saw his Freddy films get sequeled into oblivion and having not had a hand in them, albeit having problems with the studio and stuff over it, Alive Films approached Wes with an offer to create a new franchise and a new horror hero. Excited by the new chance, Craven took the offer and the end result was mixed. The movie centers around young football player Jonathan Parker(played by future "Chicago Hope" vet and director, Peter Berg), who, in quintessential Craven dream-like form, witnesses the brutal slaying of his foster family in a dream. When he sees the killer's face and his van with the name of his business in his dream, he informs his police lieutenant father Donald Parker(Michael Murphy)about it, and the hunt is on. The killer is Horace Pinker(Mitch Pileggi, who would later claim fame as Walter Skinner on "The X Files"),a TV repairman with a bald head and one nasty limp. With the help of Jonathan's dreams, Horace is caught and given the death sentence. After Horace is given the chair, the terror really starts to begin as he concocted some magic voodoo spell that has transformed him into an evil electricity that can use energy waves to move around and to possess unsuspecting people. And what is his main mission now?. That's right, get the kid who identified him. For a movie that is obviously over the top and silly, it sometimes gets too silly and over the top for it's own good and collapses under the weight. It's uneven and the mythology that Craven has created for the character and what Horace can now do can sometimes be confusing and you are not sure of what he can do or if he can do that at all. New ideas for the character and the ways he can move and stuff seem to just be created as Craven goes along. To his credit, I have to say that Mitch Pileggi is a great bad guy. He really does a great job with Horace. There are moments of pure camp, but he manages to be real and threatening without embarrasing himself. If he does overdo it at times, then it is only for the benefit of the film. I enjoy his performance with this character and he was very convincing. Peter Berg also does a pretty good job with Jonathan. It's unusual to see a male as the lead in a teeny-type horror film, but he does a decent job. Not all is bad with this film. It is far from being anywhere close to being Craven's best work, but even when Craven isn't hitting on all fronts, his films and writing and storytelling are still wildly inventive, creative, hip, and smart. There are a number of good scenes here and visuals and cool ideas that keep the film afloat and show that Wes definitley has the right idea, but they don't always come out on film the way they do on paper. The end battle scene with Jonathan and Horace is wild and crazy and kind of funny, but it doesn't really have any great impact or emotional depth to it. It's more of a use of stock footage and for people to point out who they recognize. "Shocker" isn't a total failure. It's not great, but it is highly watchable and has a great camp feel to it that will keep it alive and keep somewhat interesting as you watch it.
Rating:
Summary: TV Is Hazardous To Your Health
Review: When Wes Craven first released "A Nightmare On Elm Street" back in 1984, he may or may not of known how the world of dreams would impact his career from this point on. This film, which came out in 1989, continues to follow the dream trend he created in his work with his classic "Elm Street". And, sadly, it doesn't hit the jackpot. After Craven saw his Freddy films get sequeled into oblivion and having not had a hand in them, albeit having problems with the studio and stuff over it, Alive Films approached Wes with an offer to create a new franchise and a new horror hero. Excited by the new chance, Craven took the offer and the end result was mixed. The movie centers around young football player Jonathan Parker(played by future "Chicago Hope" vet and director, Peter Berg), who, in quintessential Craven dream-like form, witnesses the brutal slaying of his foster family in a dream. When he sees the killer's face and his van with the name of his business in his dream, he informs his police lieutenant father Donald Parker(Michael Murphy)about it, and the hunt is on. The killer is Horace Pinker(Mitch Pileggi, who would later claim fame as Walter Skinner on "The X Files"),a TV repairman with a bald head and one nasty limp. With the help of Jonathan's dreams, Horace is caught and given the death sentence. After Horace is given the chair, the terror really starts to begin as he concocted some magic voodoo spell that has transformed him into an evil electricity that can use energy waves to move around and to possess unsuspecting people. And what is his main mission now?. That's right, get the kid who identified him. For a movie that is obviously over the top and silly, it sometimes gets too silly and over the top for it's own good and collapses under the weight. It's uneven and the mythology that Craven has created for the character and what Horace can now do can sometimes be confusing and you are not sure of what he can do or if he can do that at all. New ideas for the character and the ways he can move and stuff seem to just be created as Craven goes along. To his credit, I have to say that Mitch Pileggi is a great bad guy. He really does a great job with Horace. There are moments of pure camp, but he manages to be real and threatening without embarrasing himself. If he does overdo it at times, then it is only for the benefit of the film. I enjoy his performance with this character and he was very convincing. Peter Berg also does a pretty good job with Jonathan. It's unusual to see a male as the lead in a teeny-type horror film, but he does a decent job. Not all is bad with this film. It is far from being anywhere close to being Craven's best work, but even when Craven isn't hitting on all fronts, his films and writing and storytelling are still wildly inventive, creative, hip, and smart. There are a number of good scenes here and visuals and cool ideas that keep the film afloat and show that Wes definitley has the right idea, but they don't always come out on film the way they do on paper. The end battle scene with Jonathan and Horace is wild and crazy and kind of funny, but it doesn't really have any great impact or emotional depth to it. It's more of a use of stock footage and for people to point out who they recognize. "Shocker" isn't a total failure. It's not great, but it is highly watchable and has a great camp feel to it that will keep it alive and keep somewhat interesting as you watch it.
Rating: 
Summary: Awsome 80's horror flick. Loads of fun & great music score!
Review: Whenever I see a film that's lots of fun but reletivly obscure I feel kind of sad, in a way, as I feel such a film deserves better recognition. That's how I felt when I saw this film. It was Wes Craven's attempt to create a new horror movie franchise as he did with A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, with Horrace Pinker, a very Freddy Kruger-esque villian. Since everyone, even people who never watch horror movies, have heard of Freddy Kruger but Horrace Pinker is a much more obscure name, this film failed to catch on. That does make me sad, in a way, but then again if this movie had been a hit like ELM STREET was, they probably would have made a slew of sequels and Pinker would have become every bit as invincible as Freddy. I've always felt a sense of hopelessness when I'm watching a slasher movie series and the undead killer keeps coming back to life. Much as I do love this movie, I appreciate the fact that, from a story telling perspective, this is a stand-alone film. Ahem. Anyway, the plot: Horrace Pinker is a T.V. repairman by day, serial killer of whole families by night. He also walks with a limp (we find out later in the movie why that is). High school football player Jonathan seems unconnected to all this, until he has a dream where Pinker murders his family, and then finds out that it has really happened, leaving only Jon and his police leutenant foster dad left. Jonathan's dreams lead police to finding out the killer's identity, but that doesn't save Jon's girlfriend Allison, whom Pinker later kills. Finally Pinker is captured and sentanced to death by electric chair...and the film's second act begins. You see, Pinker practices black magic, and after his execution he becomes an evil spirit with the ability to jump into other people's bodies... I love pretty much everything about this movie. It's got an awsome 80's metal sountrack that you can really bang your head to, some really cool kill scenes and gore (the lip-chewing scene is probably the most shocking thing in the film) the killer is certainly Freddy-like in many ways, yet still different, in that he invades people bodies rather than their dreams. The good characters are also interesting enough and easy to root for. I especially liked the bit where Allison's ghost comes back to warn him that Pinker may be dead but isn't gone. I also like the thing where Pinker practices black magic, thus giving us an explanation as to how he's able to come back after death; Freddy was able to, apparently, just because he wanted to badly enough. I love the film's climax, and one other thing. (WARNING! MAJOR PLOT SPOILER!) I like how this film DOESN'T have one of those "Oh my God the killer/evil spirit's STILL ALIVE!" endings. Pinker is vanquished at the end, and since there were never any sequels, we know he's been permenantly laid to rest. If you like horror movies check this one out!
Rating: 
Summary: IT SUCKS!!!!!
Review: While looking for the album with the songs I inadvertently ordered this, because it was labled as the soundtrack. It isn't, this is more like classical. the metal album is much, much better.
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