Rating of
2/4
No more Mr. Nice Guy.
filmfan09 - wrote on 03/25/09
Wes Craven's Shocker is a low-budget supernatural horror film that has since become a cult classic. The film centers on high school athlete Jonathan Parker (Peter Berg). He develops a strange connection to a serial killer through his dreams . His father is a homicide detective Don Parker (Michael Murphy), who has been working on capturing the serial killer plaguing the town. One night, Jonathan dreams that his family is murdered by the serial killer. He identities the killer -- a television repairman Horace Pinker (Mitch Pileggi). Using Jonathan's dream as evidence, Pinker is sentenced to death in the electric chair. Before his execution, Pinker makes a pact with the devil so when he is electrocuted, the electricity from the chair will give his spirit powers of evil. Causing his spirit to travel in and out of people's bodies prompting the host to commit murder.
Shocker is quiet an enigma. I'm not sure as to what Craven was trying to pull off. It's a pretty strange movie to watch. There were a few negatives that go along with the postives of the film. First, the supernatural elements of 'Shocker' may turn a few heads and leave people disappointed expecting to see a different type of movie. This is not your typical slasher/serial killer film. Although some people may like the supernatural element going on with this film. I sure did. "Shocker" is mostly a mixed bag. The story has almost no development outside it initial ideas and it gets increasingly silly as it moves along. The sheer absurdity of the circumstances will lures those away from giving it a chance. Overall "Shocker" was good enough to warrant me to recommend seeing, it's not Wes Craven's best film but it still has it moments. Everyone has their own tastes and of course is entitled to their opinion. See "Shocker" and decide for yourself.
Its only a matter of time before this movie gets the big budget remake treatment like his other films.
