Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An underrated gem! Inventive no-budget art!, December 3, 2001
"Combat Shock" is one of those rare microbudget films that has a lasting impact on its viewers. Originally titled, "American Nightmares", "Combat Shock" plays like a really grimy, amateurish version of "Eraserhead" with a little bit of "First Blood" and "Taxi Driver" thrown in. The commentary is extremely helpful, and Buddy went on to direct "No Way Home" with Tim Roth. If you're expecting an over-the-top satire Troma style, you're in for a surprise. The last 15 minutes of the movie may very well blow your mind. Also, the plotline predates "Jacob's Ladder", which is an almost exact word-for-word descendant of this sometimes cheesy, but mostly honest film of urban decay and psychopathy in the mind of a Vietnam vet. Lloyd, you sure know how to pick 'em! Buy the dvd and see what I mean. Remember, it is pretty shocking though, with that special graphic violence that will Tromatize you forever!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
DEPRESSIVE AND DARK, February 7, 2006
"Combat Shock" is one of the most depressive movies I've seen. It's so pitch-dark and hopeless you physically begin to feel sick. The main character Frankie is a Vietnam vet who lives in a small flat near a railroad with his always-nagging wife and a mutant baby - because the troops in Vietnam were exposed to some chemical weapons. Frankie has no job, every day he just idly wanders the neighbourhood. His family lives in extreme poverty, they are about to be evicted, they have nothing to eat, and the mutant baby is crying all the way. God... When I was looking at that baby I wanted to turn off the film and watch some comedy instead. My mood was rotten for the next few days. But I was truly amazed by the movie in general. Shot on a very tight budget, it impresses like nothing else I've seen. I didn't have a chance to see other works of Buddy Giovinazzo, but he demonstrated immense talent in this feature. After such films you start to value your simple ordinary life and realise you're utterly happy.
"Combat Shock" is a one day in life of Frankie, and during this day he descends deeper and deeper morally and emotionally right before our eyes. The climax would be just insane, I nearly had a desire to take a bottle and get drunk - to forget the last hour and a half of my life. Now, looking at the movie with a fresh eye I understand it's one of those hidden gems everyone should get acquainted with - it's really different. And don't look it's a Troma team release - this is not a usual Troma presentation. I guess it's their best edition ever.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Surprising great movie, December 19, 2004
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.
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