Combat Shock (2015)

The effectiveness of "Combat Shock" just goes to show that the movies which the notorious Troma company picks up for distribution are typically better than their own productions. The movie is not what this viewer would consider "enjoyable", but that's entirely the point. This is gut wrenching, raw, uncompromising, brutal stuff that unfortunately feels all too real. Clearly filmed on a shoestring, this only enhances the impact of the material, as we are witness to a variety of extremely down and out Staten Island citizens, with one person in particular serving as the focus. He's Frankie (Rick Giovinazzo, brother of the writer / director Buddy Giovinazzo, and also composer of the music), a man with a mind that's steadily deteriorating. He can't forget his haunting Vietnam War experience, and now he lives in squalor with a nagging wife (Veronica Stork), and a deformed child who has taken ill. He can't find work, is about to be evicted from his apartment, and is in debt to a gangster (Mitch Maglio), to boot. The story is largely confined to a single day as Frankie wanders the streets, sometimes with a purpose (such as going to the employment agency, or placing a desperate call to his father), sometimes not. Along the way he meets assorted other people living miserable lives. When he finally gives in to temptation and commits a crime (believing that being in jail isn't the worst situation in which he could find himself), he's presented with what will truly turn out to be his means of release. If you know going in that this movie is going to be a walk on the dark side of life, you may figure out where this is all going, but that still doesn't make the ultimate resolution any less tragic. The characters, by and large, aren't all that sympathetic, but remain compelling, flaws and all. The acting is often as rough as one could expect from something of this budget, but Rick G. gives a really heartfelt effort, and he and Buddy G. pull no punches when it comes to the cold hard reality of any moment. The pacing is very deliberate, as one will notice, all the way from start to finish; Buddy G. lets each scene play out for as long as possible, and the camera never flinches from the horrors that occur. This is far and away one of the grimmest productions with which Troma ever associated, a long way from the camp and schlock of their in-house projects. By the time this is all over, it would be very hard not to feel *something* as the end credits start rolling. This is the kind of thing one would cautiously recommend unless the prospective viewer can appreciate bleakness in their movies. Eight out of 10.

This one really struck me. I can't think of a more downright grimy movie than "Combat Shock." The plot is simple and effective. A guy comes back from 'Nam and is completely distant from everything and everyone. His life is awful and beyond upsetting.This film hardly has a redeeming quality to it; it's mostly just shocking and upsetting. The cover art is very deceptive, doesn't show at all what this movie is all about.I was pretty depressed after viewing this one, but I'm still glad I saw it, and I might even watch it again. This movie definitely does what it sets out to do on a minimal budget. It's one of those films where having a low budget adds to the overall effectiveness of the picture.Recommended for fans of films like "Deadbeat At Dawn," "Eraserhead" and "Nekromantik." 8 out of 10, kids.

I had never seen This movie it somehow slipped by me until i found it on DVD recently (both versions). I gave it full ten stars because it is a masterpiece in its own kinda bizarre way. It captures the poor Vietnam vet's daily life back in the world, the poverty, hopelessness and horrors of a nagging wife and a horrific mutant son (and that boy has a whine that made me sick) A so simple yet shocking sound effect... The details of the interior of their apartment is truly sickening, from the filth on the walls to the overfilled malfunctioning toilet. What struck me most about this movie is that i can relate to it. I have gone trough some similar back to the world experience. The utterly total hopelessness! And a screaming 24/7 little kid too....As for quality it is what you might expect of a full frame DVD, 4:3, mono sound and no extras except two versions of the movie.A deeper look at the absolute bottom of decay a highly recommended buy if you can find it on DVD.

You have read all about the plot, so here is something a little deeper. I just wanted to clear up a few things, I have read a lot of comments on this film and read it was filmed in New Jersey. This is incorrect. This movie was shot in my neighborhood of Port Richmond on Staten Island, New York. Google it, its not NJ, guys. I work a block away from the rail yard that is shown very often in the film, and actually hung out down there in my teens. Because of this, the movie really hit home and stayed with me for a while. I just watched Combat Shock for the first time in 2008 at 28yrs old. And Port Richmond sure did look bleak back in 86, apocalyptic is more the word. I recognized most of the streets and it was depressing, and nostalgic for me to see my neighborhood in such ruins. Port Richmond ave has now populated much more, 90% by illegal immigrants. Most of the businesses that are run down in the film are now active with furniture shops, Mexican food joints and 99 cent stores. But the rail yard remains the same, though non functional for the last 20 years. A total run down abandon hole in the ground ravished with graffiti, bums and littered with empty drug baggies. I thought the film was great, and was even better being a sort of time capsule for me. I can't get this movie out of my head. It was like a window into the darkest crevices of my town, the places I would think about and fear growing up.