Combat Shock (1986) - Review and Analysis by Jason Pitt for Critical-Film.com

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Combat Shock (1986) A film review by Jason Pitt For Critical-film.com   Well, that certainly wasn't a happy film. “Combat Shock” may well be one of the most downbeat films I've ever watched. Troma's efforts are usually so poorly made that you can laugh at them and generally have a good time. There's no laughing at “Combat Shock”. The film takes itself quite seriously, with the exception of a few scenes which were a little to surreal within the context of the film.   The film concerns itself with the situation of a Viet Nam vet, now living in the slums of New York City . He attempts to support his wife and disfigured son, yet hasn't worked for months. He's plagued by nightmares, every night. It seems as though he's surrounded by the blight of society, drug addicts, and teenage prostitutes. He owes money to a loan shark named Paco, and his family is unaware they've just been evicted. It's a desperate situation that is constantly reminding him of his time at war. Over the course of a single day, his mind will be pushed to the limit.   I'd be lying if I said I didn't believe “Combat Shock” held some relevance, as it is undeniably a very impactful film. It is difficult to watch, and morally depressing. It only gets more so, as the film progresses. Director Buddy Giovinazzo obviously views the subject matter as something very important, as I said, there is an urgency about his direction, devoid of any humour, the film is meant to be viewed as a serious work. However, the only reason the film succeeds, is because the situation in which the character finds himself, and his reaction to what occurs around him seems almost genuine. It's all in the writing. The acting is certainly less than spectacular, the direction is quite poor, and the editing is terrible. The film begins with some poorly edited stock footage, followed by the longest sequence of establishing shots I've ever seen. The film as a whole is just not put together very well.   I respect Troma as a company. Not because they produce a quality product, but because they produce small films for people like you and me. Buddy Giovinazzo had no filmmaking experience before “Combat Shock”, and it is, in the truest aspect, an independent film. By that I mean, it is a family picture consisting of family and friends. His brother Ricky plays the lead role, and performed the music. It seems as though Ricky Giovinazzo has crafted quite the career for himself as an orchestrator for many big budget Hollywood films, such as “The Island”, “Fantastic Four”, and “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest”. His music is one of the highlights of “Combat Shock”, creating a distinctly 80's feel, not unlike some of the work Fabio Frizzi did for Lucio Fulci.   It is hard for me to give “Combat Shock” a recommendation, as it's really not that great a film. It is however, socially significant, and deals with some powerful subject matter. It is widely regarded as one of the most disturbing films of all time, and while I may dispute that, it's certainly no cup of tea, either. For those who attempt to watch it, be prepared for a constant feeling of desperation, and an incredibly depressive tone. Good Luck.   (Two-and-a-half stars)   This review was provided in HTML format, as your browser is not capable of displaying flash content. To experience Critical-Film.com the way it was meant to be seen, please download the flash player from <a href="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash&promoid=BIOW">Macromedia</a>.