Description
A Nightmare Of Homicidal Hallucinations And Demonic Possession
When a family moves into a home with a shocking secret, their lives become a nightmare of homicidal hallucinations as their young son begins to communicate with the spirits of the dead. Remodeled in madness and painted in blood, they soon discover that domestic bliss can be murder... when home is where the horror is.
Released in America under the title BEYOND THE DOOR II, SHOCK is the final feature film directed by legendary horror maestro
Mario Bava (BLACK SUNDAY, TWITCH OF THE DEATH NERVE).
Daria Nicolodi (DEEP RED, PHENOMENA) and
John Steiner (TENEBRE) star in this Euro Horror favorite, now restored from the original negative materials for the first time ever.
Customer Reviews:
Shocking.......2007-08-06
This film has its moments that can be seriously disturbing. While a little drawn out, the ending truly is shocking. I can see echoes and influences of both Bava and Argento. I'd recommend this film highly to Argento completists and those who enjoy unusual horror films.
Strong thriller from the Italian Master.......2007-04-03
This film came late in Mario Bava's career (actually his last film, I think?) and suffers slightly from the move into modern territory, leaving it resembling too many other films around it at the time. But generally it's a pretty solid thriller with some very good moments. Daria Nicolodi plays Dora, a woman recovering from a breakdown. She has a young son and a new partner, and together they move into the house that Dora used to live in when her first husband was still alive...not a good start eh? As you might expect things don't go well for the trio...Dora has nightmares and hallucinations, her son acts strangely, and her new husband Bruno always seems to be away working when she needs him most.
What we have here is quite a typical "is she going mad or is it all real?" scenario, which has been handled many times before. Bava, however handles the material quite deftly. He picks out lots of small oddities such as the bizarre ceramic hand sculpture that Dora pores over, some booby-trapped piano keys (ouch!), the weirdness of the young son playing around, and when seen from Dora's viewpoint, you can quite easily believe that she's being haunted by something very unnatural...or is she?
Well I'm not telling, and hopefully you can watch this film without being aware of the plot explanation, because it deserves to be experienced fresh. Bava directs the action with some skill, and the acting is pretty good, with Daria Nicolodi making a convincing traumatized victim. Sadly the English language dubbing weakens the impact of many scenes, but the visuals are good and Dora's dream sequences are all quite creepy. Plus the film boasts one really, REALLY good jump-scare, which I'm sure you will remember, as it's a very clever one. It also has quite a bloody finale, to keep gore fans happy.
The Anchor Bay DVD is a good copy to buy, it's uncut, restoring some sequences that were trimmed from earlier VHS releases, especially those involving the young son's behaviour (I think you'll be able to spot the ones I mean!), and nicely presented too. Worth owning, even if it's not really that big a "shock" film, but it delivers an entertaining weird experience anyway.
A good movie........2007-03-26
Creepy atmosphere, great soundtrack, interesting story. A family moves back to a house with old memories. Strange things begin to happen as the woman's son begins to behave strangely. I don't want to go deeper into the story because it will ruin the movie. It is definetely worth watching, especially if you are a fan of Italian Cinema. I would recommend, worthy addition to your horror collection.
It Has Its Moments.......2007-01-28
This movie has some good moments although I won't say it's a masterpiece.
Probably the favorite character for me is the son.
The dead husband's ghost takes possession of the youth which causes him to start having un-natural feelings towards his mother. He steels some of her clothes for example when she's in the shower.
Finally she wakes up and the boy is on top of her. I guess you can read between the lines there. I'm waiting for the day when I watch some weird movie and they take this idea to another level. Probably nobody would ever go that far.
The boy develops powerful psycho kinetic abilities as a result of being possessed. He can cause a plane to crash simply by pushing a swing.
I like the son he's a good actor.
Other than that though this is a more or less typical Italian horror movie. Doors slamming, pianos playing, etc..
The new husband is giving the wife some type of drug. I don't know if he's really supposed to be the bad guy or what. I guess that's the idea of this movie you are never quite sure of who's the bad guy or what really happened.
Actually one interpretation is everyone in the entire movie is bad.
I would say the story is a little weak.
Still it's worth watching I would say.
Jeff Marzano
Possession ~ Isabelle Adjani, Sam Neill, Margit Carstensen, and Heinz Bennent (DVD - 1981)
Beyond the Darkness: Buio Omega ~ Kieran Canter, Cinzia Monreale, Franca Stoppi, and Sam Modesto (DVD - 1984)
The House with Laughing Windows ~ Lino Capolicchio, Francesca Marciano, Gianni Cavina, and Giulio Pizzirani (DVD - 1976)
The Beast (La bête) ~ Sirpa Lane, Lisbeth Hummel, Elisabeth Kaza, and Pierre Benedetti (DVD - 1977)
Damage ~ Jeremy Irons, Juliette Binoche, Miranda Richardson, and Rupert Graves (DVD - 1993)
My favorite Bava film.......2006-08-26
The only other Bava films I've seen are Bay of Blood and Black Sabbath, but Shock is my favorite. It seems to usually get lukewarm reviews from critics and horror movie fans for some reason. I remember seeing it on TV under the title Beyond The Door 2 and it freaked me out when I was younger. Some of the dialog is laughable, but maybe that's due to the dubbing and translation. It might sound much better in the original Italian. There's not a whole lot of gore, but enough surprises and weird imagery to keep one interested.
The dvd by anchor bay is very nice. It's great to see this movie in widescreen. (Italian horror films used to get such horrible pan and scan treatment on vhs back in the day.) It was also very cool to see the original Italian trailer and American TV spots. If you like this movie, you should get it as soon as possible because it's out of print and the price is only going to go up.
Average customer rating:
- Good film, but not spectacular!
- a must!
- great for a dubbed movie!
- More Mayhem, Sly humor in this ultimate version of the cult classic...
- Pretty crappy movie
|
Versus (Director's Cut)
Starring:
Tak Sakaguchi ,
Hideo Sakaki ,
Chieko Misaka ,
Kenji Matsuda , and
Yuichiro Arai
Director:
Ryuhei Kitamura
Manufacturer: Tokyo Shock
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
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Ichi the Killer (Unrated Edition)
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Battle Royale Directors Cut
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Oldboy
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Visitor Q (Sub)
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Death Trance
ASIN: B000095J2Z
Release Date: 2003-07-29 |
Description
Deep within the mysterious Forest of Resurrection, a spectacular battle between good and evil has gone on since the dawn of time. When Prisoner KSC2-303 escapes from a maximum security facility, he enters the forest, believing it will lead him to safe haven. Instead, he finds himself a pawn in an endless struggle played out across multiple temporal planes of existence. His opponent: a mysterious man who seemingly cannot be killed. The battle to be waged: Good versus Evil in the pursuit of a beautiful woman who holds the key to eternal life. What Prisoner KSC2-303 cannot remember is whether or not he is the personification of good or the very essence of darkness
Customer Reviews:
Good film, but not spectacular!.......2007-08-09
Well I only bought this film because of the action and Tak Sakaguchi. The action and special effects are phenomenal, however the English voice over actors are horrible actors, which puts a damper on the film itself. I recommend watching it with subtitles.
a must!.......2007-05-13
this is a favorite movie in our houshold! i got it at an amazing price, and i got it on my boyfriends b day! awesome timing as well.
great for a dubbed movie!.......2007-04-02
I began to watch this DVD and up came japanese characters with the translation in subtitles below, and i thought, "this movie better not be all subtitles!"
You see kids, i'd rather have crappy dubbing than subtitles because with subtitles, you spend the whole movie reading it and not getting into the story at all!
More Mayhem, Sly humor in this ultimate version of the cult classic..........2007-03-25
I've waited for the official Region 1 release of this 3- disc Ultimate edition ever since I saw the Japanese region-2 release sans English subtitles. There are some wanna-be Ultimate editions made from Taiwan or Malaysia but they are not the Ultimate edition. I know the release date is listed as 3/27/2007, I got lucky and I bought mine a week earlier than this date.
VERSUS is a cult hit from the beginning. Ryuhei Kitamura's film has all the ingredients for stylish mayhem: Zombies, Guns & Gangsters, Samurai Swordplay, Slick humor, a cute chick, anime-like fantasy and mystery.
The story revolves around prisoner escapee KSC2-303(Tak Sakaguchi, from Shinobi, Death Trance, Azumi) stuck in the "Forest of Resurrection" to seek safe haven. Unfortunately, the crime lord supposed to grant him this has his own motives and he finds himself against a mysterious supernatural opponent to whom he is linked. This flick is a stylish relentless, rampaging zombie action-noir-horror hybrid that Hollywood probably wishes it thought of it first.
The difference between the R1 Ultimate Edition and the previous R1 Special edition are(actually the slip sleeve specifies scene by scene):
1) More Blood and gore.
2) It looked like all the fight scenes have been extended.
3)added: a renewal scene- Dark hero encounters zombies(3 scenes)more extended. Back-flips mayhem galore!
4)Zombies holding katana swords in the beginning scene.
5)Ohba extended zombie encounter scene
6)extended action sequence, zombie encounter- 3 Assasins going to the forest meeting a lot of zombies instead of just meeeting up with Matsuda and Ohba.
7) Katayama extended fight scene with assasins.
8) New music/new dialogue on some scenes. Added scenes appear a lot sharper than the film itself. The film itself is remastered, although it still maintains that murky look.
9)Extra CGI and color correction
And a lot more of added 11 minutes of action and mayhem!!
Special/bonus features:
Audio commentary
In the making of: Versus
Stills gallery
First Contact: Down to Hell(original title)
Nervous 1: 7 min, side story about the cop who gets agitated when called"officer"
Nervous 2: side story(not a sequel) features what happens to the little guy with the 2 cops. They suffer from psychogenic amnesia.
Trailers: DOWN TO HELL, DOWN TO HELL 2:THE RETURN(original title)among others.
This 3-DISC ULTIMATE Edition(130 min) is well worth the money, I'm trading in the old 2-disc special edition(119 min). With an added 11 minutes of more action, mayhem and gore, this is a must-have for all Versus fans!! It certainly improved the original unlike stupid "extended releases" of ELEKTRA, AVP and THE PUNISHER.
The only gripe I have is I wish it was possible to have remastered the whole film in High-definition(which is why I only gave it 4 stars), but looking at the original film's budget limitations when it was made, Kitamura managed to put every penny he can into the film.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!(only for fans of the film, if you hated, the first version, this new dvd won't change your mind)
Pretty crappy movie.......2007-03-15
This movie felt long. The special effects and filmwork were pretty bad. The acting was even worse. The voice-over actors were bad and the subtitles were generally too fast to read those and watch in Japanese.
I'm a fan of this genre of movie usually and I thought this would be a good one - but this is one to pass on, especially considering how much it costs.
Average customer rating:
- Good film, but not spectacular!
- a must!
- great for a dubbed movie!
- More Mayhem, Sly humor in this ultimate version of the cult classic...
- Pretty crappy movie
|
Versus
Starring:
Tak Sakaguchi ,
Hideo Sakaki ,
Chieko Misaka ,
Kenji Matsuda , and
Yuichiro Arai
Director:
Ryuhei Kitamura
Manufacturer: Tokyo Shock
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
General
| Action & Adventure
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Thrillers
| Action & Adventure
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
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| Action & Adventure
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| Video
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Similar Items:
-
Ichi the Killer (Unrated Edition)
-
Battle Royale Directors Cut
-
Oldboy
-
Visitor Q (Sub)
-
Death Trance
ASIN: B00009EIRW
Release Date: 2003-07-29 |
Description
Deep within the mysterious Forest of Resurrection, a spectacular battle between good and evil has gone on since the dawn of time. When Prisoner KSC2-303 escapes from a maximum security facility, he enters the forest, believing it will lead him to safe haven. Instead, he finds himself a pawn in an endless struggle played out across multiple temporal planes of existence. His opponent: a mysterious man who seemingly cannot be killed. The battle to be waged: Good versus Evil in the pursuit of a beautiful woman who holds the key to eternal life. What Prisoner KSC2-303 cannot remember is whether or not he is the personification of good or the very essence of darkness
Customer Reviews:
Good film, but not spectacular!.......2007-08-09
Well I only bought this film because of the action and Tak Sakaguchi. The action and special effects are phenomenal, however the English voice over actors are horrible actors, which puts a damper on the film itself. I recommend watching it with subtitles.
a must!.......2007-05-13
this is a favorite movie in our houshold! i got it at an amazing price, and i got it on my boyfriends b day! awesome timing as well.
great for a dubbed movie!.......2007-04-02
I began to watch this DVD and up came japanese characters with the translation in subtitles below, and i thought, "this movie better not be all subtitles!"
You see kids, i'd rather have crappy dubbing than subtitles because with subtitles, you spend the whole movie reading it and not getting into the story at all!
More Mayhem, Sly humor in this ultimate version of the cult classic..........2007-03-25
I've waited for the official Region 1 release of this 3- disc Ultimate edition ever since I saw the Japanese region-2 release sans English subtitles. There are some wanna-be Ultimate editions made from Taiwan or Malaysia but they are not the Ultimate edition. I know the release date is listed as 3/27/2007, I got lucky and I bought mine a week earlier than this date.
VERSUS is a cult hit from the beginning. Ryuhei Kitamura's film has all the ingredients for stylish mayhem: Zombies, Guns & Gangsters, Samurai Swordplay, Slick humor, a cute chick, anime-like fantasy and mystery.
The story revolves around prisoner escapee KSC2-303(Tak Sakaguchi, from Shinobi, Death Trance, Azumi) stuck in the "Forest of Resurrection" to seek safe haven. Unfortunately, the crime lord supposed to grant him this has his own motives and he finds himself against a mysterious supernatural opponent to whom he is linked. This flick is a stylish relentless, rampaging zombie action-noir-horror hybrid that Hollywood probably wishes it thought of it first.
The difference between the R1 Ultimate Edition and the previous R1 Special edition are(actually the slip sleeve specifies scene by scene):
1) More Blood and gore.
2) It looked like all the fight scenes have been extended.
3)added: a renewal scene- Dark hero encounters zombies(3 scenes)more extended. Back-flips mayhem galore!
4)Zombies holding katana swords in the beginning scene.
5)Ohba extended zombie encounter scene
6)extended action sequence, zombie encounter- 3 Assasins going to the forest meeting a lot of zombies instead of just meeeting up with Matsuda and Ohba.
7) Katayama extended fight scene with assasins.
8) New music/new dialogue on some scenes. Added scenes appear a lot sharper than the film itself. The film itself is remastered, although it still maintains that murky look.
9)Extra CGI and color correction
And a lot more of added 11 minutes of action and mayhem!!
Special/bonus features:
Audio commentary
In the making of: Versus
Stills gallery
First Contact: Down to Hell(original title)
Nervous 1: 7 min, side story about the cop who gets agitated when called"officer"
Nervous 2: side story(not a sequel) features what happens to the little guy with the 2 cops. They suffer from psychogenic amnesia.
Trailers: DOWN TO HELL, DOWN TO HELL 2:THE RETURN(original title)among others.
This 3-DISC ULTIMATE Edition(130 min) is well worth the money, I'm trading in the old 2-disc special edition(119 min). With an added 11 minutes of more action, mayhem and gore, this is a must-have for all Versus fans!! It certainly improved the original unlike stupid "extended releases" of ELEKTRA, AVP and THE PUNISHER.
The only gripe I have is I wish it was possible to have remastered the whole film in High-definition(which is why I only gave it 4 stars), but looking at the original film's budget limitations when it was made, Kitamura managed to put every penny he can into the film.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!(only for fans of the film, if you hated, the first version, this new dvd won't change your mind)
Pretty crappy movie.......2007-03-15
This movie felt long. The special effects and filmwork were pretty bad. The acting was even worse. The voice-over actors were bad and the subtitles were generally too fast to read those and watch in Japanese.
I'm a fan of this genre of movie usually and I thought this would be a good one - but this is one to pass on, especially considering how much it costs.
Average customer rating:
- Good film, but not spectacular!
- a must!
- great for a dubbed movie!
- More Mayhem, Sly humor in this ultimate version of the cult classic...
- Pretty crappy movie
|
Versus (Special Edition)
Starring:
Tak Sakaguchi ,
Hideo Sakaki ,
Chieko Misaka ,
Kenji Matsuda , and
Yuichiro Arai
Director:
Ryuhei Kitamura
Manufacturer: Tokyo Shock
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
General
| Action & Adventure
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Thrillers
| Action & Adventure
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Martial Arts
| Action & Adventure
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Art House & International
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Japan
| By Country
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| DVD
| Video
Action & Adventure
| Japan
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| Genres
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| Things That Go Bump
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Similar Items:
-
Ichi the Killer (Unrated Edition)
-
Battle Royale Directors Cut
-
Oldboy
-
Visitor Q (Sub)
-
Death Trance
ASIN: B000095J2Y
Release Date: 2003-08-19 |
Description
Deep within the mysterious Forest of Resurrection, a spectacular battle between good and evil has gone on since the dawn of time. When Prisoner KSC2-303 escapes from a maximum security facility, he enters the forest, believing it will lead him to safe haven. Instead, he finds himself a pawn in an endless struggle played out across multiple temporal planes of existence. His opponent: a mysterious man who seemingly cannot be killed. The battle to be waged: Good versus Evil in the pursuit of a beautiful woman who holds the key to eternal life. What Prisoner KSC2-303 cannot remember is whether or not he is the personification of good or the very essence of darkness
Customer Reviews:
Good film, but not spectacular!.......2007-08-09
Well I only bought this film because of the action and Tak Sakaguchi. The action and special effects are phenomenal, however the English voice over actors are horrible actors, which puts a damper on the film itself. I recommend watching it with subtitles.
a must!.......2007-05-13
this is a favorite movie in our houshold! i got it at an amazing price, and i got it on my boyfriends b day! awesome timing as well.
great for a dubbed movie!.......2007-04-02
I began to watch this DVD and up came japanese characters with the translation in subtitles below, and i thought, "this movie better not be all subtitles!"
You see kids, i'd rather have crappy dubbing than subtitles because with subtitles, you spend the whole movie reading it and not getting into the story at all!
More Mayhem, Sly humor in this ultimate version of the cult classic..........2007-03-25
I've waited for the official Region 1 release of this 3- disc Ultimate edition ever since I saw the Japanese region-2 release sans English subtitles. There are some wanna-be Ultimate editions made from Taiwan or Malaysia but they are not the Ultimate edition. I know the release date is listed as 3/27/2007, I got lucky and I bought mine a week earlier than this date.
VERSUS is a cult hit from the beginning. Ryuhei Kitamura's film has all the ingredients for stylish mayhem: Zombies, Guns & Gangsters, Samurai Swordplay, Slick humor, a cute chick, anime-like fantasy and mystery.
The story revolves around prisoner escapee KSC2-303(Tak Sakaguchi, from Shinobi, Death Trance, Azumi) stuck in the "Forest of Resurrection" to seek safe haven. Unfortunately, the crime lord supposed to grant him this has his own motives and he finds himself against a mysterious supernatural opponent to whom he is linked. This flick is a stylish relentless, rampaging zombie action-noir-horror hybrid that Hollywood probably wishes it thought of it first.
The difference between the R1 Ultimate Edition and the previous R1 Special edition are(actually the slip sleeve specifies scene by scene):
1) More Blood and gore.
2) It looked like all the fight scenes have been extended.
3)added: a renewal scene- Dark hero encounters zombies(3 scenes)more extended. Back-flips mayhem galore!
4)Zombies holding katana swords in the beginning scene.
5)Ohba extended zombie encounter scene
6)extended action sequence, zombie encounter- 3 Assasins going to the forest meeting a lot of zombies instead of just meeeting up with Matsuda and Ohba.
7) Katayama extended fight scene with assasins.
8) New music/new dialogue on some scenes. Added scenes appear a lot sharper than the film itself. The film itself is remastered, although it still maintains that murky look.
9)Extra CGI and color correction
And a lot more of added 11 minutes of action and mayhem!!
Special/bonus features:
Audio commentary
In the making of: Versus
Stills gallery
First Contact: Down to Hell(original title)
Nervous 1: 7 min, side story about the cop who gets agitated when called"officer"
Nervous 2: side story(not a sequel) features what happens to the little guy with the 2 cops. They suffer from psychogenic amnesia.
Trailers: DOWN TO HELL, DOWN TO HELL 2:THE RETURN(original title)among others.
This 3-DISC ULTIMATE Edition(130 min) is well worth the money, I'm trading in the old 2-disc special edition(119 min). With an added 11 minutes of more action, mayhem and gore, this is a must-have for all Versus fans!! It certainly improved the original unlike stupid "extended releases" of ELEKTRA, AVP and THE PUNISHER.
The only gripe I have is I wish it was possible to have remastered the whole film in High-definition(which is why I only gave it 4 stars), but looking at the original film's budget limitations when it was made, Kitamura managed to put every penny he can into the film.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!(only for fans of the film, if you hated, the first version, this new dvd won't change your mind)
Pretty crappy movie.......2007-03-15
This movie felt long. The special effects and filmwork were pretty bad. The acting was even worse. The voice-over actors were bad and the subtitles were generally too fast to read those and watch in Japanese.
I'm a fan of this genre of movie usually and I thought this would be a good one - but this is one to pass on, especially considering how much it costs.
Average customer rating:
- GRAB YOUR COPY NOW!!! 2 EXCEPTIONAL MASTERWORKS!
- WOW ! WHAT A GREAT DEAL !
- 2 Classic Weird Horror Flicks For The Price Of 1!
- "POSSESSION" & "SHOCK"....
|
Possession/Shock
Starring:
Isabelle Adjani ,
Sam Neill ,
Margit Carstensen ,
Heinz Bennent , and
Johanna Hofer
Director:
Andrzej Zulawski , and
Mario Bava
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
General
| Horror
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Italian Horror
| Horror
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Adjani, Isabelle
| ( A )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Bennent, Heinz
| ( B )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Carstensen, Margit
| ( C )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Neill, Sam
| ( N )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Nicolodi, Daria
| ( N )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Bava, Mario
| ( B )
| Directors
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
DVDs Under $14.99
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
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( P )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
-
A Blade in the Dark/Macabre
-
Mountain of the Cannibal God / Cannibal Man
-
The Cat o' Nine Tails
-
Daughters of Darkness
-
The Whip and The Body
ASIN: B0000AC8LA
Release Date: 2003-09-09 |
Customer Reviews:
GRAB YOUR COPY NOW!!! 2 EXCEPTIONAL MASTERWORKS!.......2006-01-31
Cinema is an art form based in the human psyche. Light and sound weave a psychologically evocative tapestry. In my humble opinion, the Poles and Italians stand at the very top rank of inherently cinematic filmmakers (followed closely by the British realists and their current heirs). The two films in this collection re-affirm my opinion with the power of their story-telling.
Zulawski's POSSESSION is a very twisted mystery with a supernatural surprise. The story unfolds at a leisurely but intriguing pace (as does Bava's SHOCK -- this is a great double bill). The first half is somewhat reminiscent of Polanski's THE TENANT and REPULSION, all character work, building tension and intrigue. The acting and staging are superb. Both Sam Neil and Isabelle Adjani, as well as all the supporting cast, give superlative performances.
The eternally beautiful Adjani was honored with a Cesar Award for this movie, and it was well deserved. An extended turn in a deserted subway tunnel is one of the most chilling scenes ever captured on screen, and it is her phenomenal performance which makes the scene.
The action picks up dramatically in the second half, and explodes in the last act. This film is definitely not for everyone. It has been called perverse (but is appropriately so) and self-indulgent (and is at least minorly so). But it is undoubtedly the work of a master filmmaker, working with the finest actors and craftsmen at his disposal. Even the most jaded lover of dark cinema will be thrilled by this one.
SHOCK is an equally wonderful achievement, by a third generation filmmaker who might have been lauded as another Antonioni or Fellini had he not confined himself to the disparaged horror genre throughout his career, eventually passing the torch to his son Lamberto.
Like POSSESSION, SHOCK is a beautifully directed occult-themed mystery. Horror fans are all too familiar with the flashy whirly-whirl dolly work of lesser auteurs. Bava moves his camera in mind-blowing ways. Always subtle, never drawing attention to itself as it artfully exploits its subject, then walloping the viewer with a stunningly effective pause. At times I was reminded of Robert Wise's THE HAUNTING (not the dreadful remake), due to Bava's ability to conjure powerful, elusive chills out of thin air, simply by his use of camera and lighting.
Horror fans and those attempting to produce or direct horror movies owe it to themselves to check these two out.
WOW ! WHAT A GREAT DEAL !.......2005-05-06
Mario & Lamberto Bava's "SHOCK" is a creepy little ghost story & Andrzej Zulawski's "POSSESSION" is one of the most twisted art-house masterpiece's of all time! This package is a gem! Either one of these movies alone is worth the price nevermind the two of them together.
2 Classic Weird Horror Flicks For The Price Of 1!.......2004-01-10
I've always wanted to see POSSESSION in its Director's Cut, although I've never seen it before but saw the video box in the horror section. A favorite of Dario Argento's, POSSESSION is the greatest horror allegory on divorce since David Cronenberg's THE BROOD. Sam Neill and Isabele Adjani are excellent in portraying the emotional distress of growing apart. It's also a comment on the state of Germany when the Berlin Wall was still erect and the Cold War was in full effect. As an added bonus, it's also a bizarre monster movie, kind of a psychosexual Frankenstein story. Great camerawork, music and ending! Highly recommended for open minds and strong stomachs!
I remember watching SHOCK when I was a kid on television (as BEYOND THE DOOR 2). The last half-hour of the movie has stuck out in my mind ever since. Mario Bava's final film (aided by his son Lamberto, a great director in his own right) is about possession, repressed memory, and psychological torment, with an excellent performance by Argento veteran Daria Nicolodi as the woman who experiences all of the above. Terrific music score by I Libra, a side project of Goblin; wish the CD soundtrack to this film would come out because I really love that opening theme! SHOCK is scarier upon repeated viewings and a must for Bava buffs!
"POSSESSION" & "SHOCK"...........2003-11-23
Double features from Anchor Bay on one disc (one on each side). Side A.) is 1981's "Possession" with Sam Neill as Mark who works for a mysterious agency employing him to track down a man "in pink socks." His marriage to Anna (Isabelle Adjani) is disintegrating. They've become emotionally estranged. They also have a small son. Mark wants to save the marriage, he suspects she's having an affair, so he has her followed after she moves out. Anna has become increasingly erratic and deranged and has moved into an old run down apartment where she harbors a hideous secret. And commits grisly murder. Their son's teacher (also Adjani) is a dead-ringer for Anna---only softer and more nurturing. But Anna's situation is something else again. "Possession" is a strange horror film with Neill and (especially) Adjani going all out. The "secret" is truly astonishingly gross. But the ending will leave your jaw dropping. Recommended for lovers of challenging films and Adjani fans. She's incredible. Side B.) is Mario Bava's "Shock" from 1979. (AKA "Beyond the Door II") "Shock" concerns a woman whose first husband (a junkie who supposedly committed suicide) seemingly comes back to haunt her through her small son. Daria Nicolodi is excellent as Dora, the devoted mother who has remarried and moved back into the house where the first husband died and soon regrets it. Bava flourishes abound in a beautifully directed shocker with good set pieces and a creepy score. Scary, bloody with some bizarre nightmare sequences and a chilling ending. Both "Possession" and "Shock" are presented in good prints and are worthwhile for horror lovers. But "Possession" is not for the squeamish. Enjoy...
Average customer rating:
- No werewolves?
- Average Horror Film From Japan: Worth A Watch!
- Love this movie
- wow it was great! dont listen to the kids review...HAHA
- What the hell?
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Cursed
Director:
Yoshihiro Hoshino
Manufacturer: Tokyo Shock
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Premonition
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Nightmare
ASIN: B0007CNY2W
Release Date: 2005-04-26 |
Description
Experience a new fear. Prepare for the unknown
You will see something you will never forget
Nao Shingaki has a part-time job at a mini-mart. Outwardly, it looks like any other mini-mart, but there is something unmistakably abnormal about the place. Inside, the air is choked with vengeful spirits. Outside, thebackyard reeks with a horrible smell. The owner of the mini-mart seems to be overjoyed by the severe injuries sustained by a sales rep for a majorfranchise; while his wife suffers from an unknown madness and spends all of her time staring into the security cameras. Now the spirits have claimed the souls of the night-shift clerk and several customers. Nao is now faced with the task of somehow trying to escape this demonic terror!
Customer Reviews:
No werewolves?.......2007-02-24
Sorry for the lame title.
Anyway, here we have another J-Horror movie involving some sort of curse. It is very similar to Ju-On (or The Grudge for you simpletons) where people die after visiting a cursed place, this time a little convenient store run by two very strange owners and their two unfortunate part-timers.
The scares build a lot of intensity and anxiety (especially the chase scene). There is also one scene that focuses on three of the characters simultaneously, and the horror that they each in counter. Unfortunately, there is much left to be desired upon the conclusion of those scenes, despite the dramatic build-up. There isn't a lot of character development, so it's really hard to care for the things that happen to them. Some parts also left me thinking - "That was it?"
The plot is very simple. They give little explanation to the events that occur, but they never follow through with it. If you're looking for something deep, you might want to try a different film. This movie seems to be intended just for a few fun scares, but nothing mind-blowing or jaw-dropping. Just a simple curse and the outcomes of those unfortunate enough to shop at that store.
The CGI wasn't too compelling, but it's kept to a minimal. The music sounds really good, though. However, they sometimes used music that was inappropriate or silly for a scene, sometimes involving comedic sounds and such. Obviously the filmmakers weren't looking to make a serious film, but sometimes the awkward comedic sounds hurt the film more than it helped show that "Cursed" shouldn't be taken too seriously.
But if you're looking for a fun time, perhaps with friends who are looking for something that wouldn't require the use of more than two brain cells, than you might want to give this movie a try. It's mindless fun, but don't be expecting everything to be wrapped up tight by the end of the movie.
Average Horror Film From Japan: Worth A Watch!.......2007-01-27
"Cursed," is an average 'B' horror film from Japan. And as many of the reviewers have noted, it doesn't take itself too seriously. The film was directed by Yoshiro Hoshino, and I personally don't think he meant the film to be taken too seriously. [However, I may be wrong]. Don't go into this film expecting too much, and you won't be disappointed. The films narrative revolves around a haunted mini-mart. The owners of the mini-mart are a very strange husband and wife. The owner (Etsuyo Mitani) and his wife (Osamu Takahashi) have a few screws loose: As they spend most of their time watching the stores video surveillance cameras.
Enter Nao Shinagaki (Hiroko Sato) who is a part-time employee in the store. The cash register is very strange indeed. Whatever the customers buy in the store, the same number pops up on the register: 666 or 999 yen. Moreover, anyone who buys something in this store eventually winds up dead. An evil spirit follows the victims home. However, each haunting is different, and the same spirit never follows the victims home. Furthermore, each of the hauntings and killings are completely different from each other.
The film is not too high on the scare factor, but there is a creepiness to the film nonetheless. Just don't expect too much in the scare factor. Also, the film is very low budget, and this shows in the film. The films main protagonist Nao (Hiroko Sato) begins to notice the strange happenings at the mini-mart, not to mention the odd and very strange owners of the store. There is not much in regards to great special effects. However, the film is worth watching. Also, there are no special features on the DVD, as it is pretty much bare bones. Recommended for those who love J-Horror. However, you might want to rent it first.
Love this movie.......2006-10-28
This is one of the gems of receint horror movies. 95% of the ones I see, especially the American ones are over the top in gore, but not actually scary at all. This one, you only actually see one death. Every thing else is done with music, mood, or shot. Completely love this flick. Pays hommage to many other movies, but mostly feels Hitchcock to me.
Shots are completely georgous, music fits the mood completely.
Can't recommend this flick any more. Origional, fun, funny, tension building...
Want to shout at the dude in the ball scene every single time I see it, "Don't go down that freaking hall!!!!"... and have watched the movie like 30+ times now. Most other movies I buy, I think I might watch them like 5-10 times, but this one is the one I throw in when anyone is over... "Hey, have you heard of this one.. you have to see it!!!"
wow it was great! dont listen to the kids review...HAHA.......2006-08-06
ok . it was very good. yes the plot seems a little blah but it wasnt. the plot is good and the killings are good to. anyone who buys something from the store dies. Everything they buy all adds up to 666 or 999 ...clever i would say. It has never been done before and it doesnt involve a girl with long black hair.
it freaked me out on a few parts. Great movie!! u gotta see it!!
Everyone i watch it with says it is great!! dont listen to that kids review.....it is not lame at all.
What the hell?.......2006-05-05
Good movie, scary, original..?? are u guys serious ? i think this one is crappy, lame, dull.., bla bla..., "dark tales of japan" is far better than this trash. but i still aprecite this movie by give it 2 stars, make movie is not easy, i know that and still apreciate their works, thank you.
Average customer rating:
- Shocking
- Strong thriller from the Italian Master
- A good movie.
- It Has Its Moments
- My favorite Bava film
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Shock
Starring:
Daria Nicolodi ,
John Steiner ,
David Colin Jr. ,
Ivan Rassimov , and
Paul Costello (II)
Director:
Mario Bava
Manufacturer: Anchor Bay
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Deep Red
ASIN: 6305797153
Release Date: 2000-03-21 |
Customer Reviews:
Shocking.......2007-08-06
This film has its moments that can be seriously disturbing. While a little drawn out, the ending truly is shocking. I can see echoes and influences of both Bava and Argento. I'd recommend this film highly to Argento completists and those who enjoy unusual horror films.
Strong thriller from the Italian Master.......2007-04-03
This film came late in Mario Bava's career (actually his last film, I think?) and suffers slightly from the move into modern territory, leaving it resembling too many other films around it at the time. But generally it's a pretty solid thriller with some very good moments. Daria Nicolodi plays Dora, a woman recovering from a breakdown. She has a young son and a new partner, and together they move into the house that Dora used to live in when her first husband was still alive...not a good start eh? As you might expect things don't go well for the trio...Dora has nightmares and hallucinations, her son acts strangely, and her new husband Bruno always seems to be away working when she needs him most.
What we have here is quite a typical "is she going mad or is it all real?" scenario, which has been handled many times before. Bava, however handles the material quite deftly. He picks out lots of small oddities such as the bizarre ceramic hand sculpture that Dora pores over, some booby-trapped piano keys (ouch!), the weirdness of the young son playing around, and when seen from Dora's viewpoint, you can quite easily believe that she's being haunted by something very unnatural...or is she?
Well I'm not telling, and hopefully you can watch this film without being aware of the plot explanation, because it deserves to be experienced fresh. Bava directs the action with some skill, and the acting is pretty good, with Daria Nicolodi making a convincing traumatized victim. Sadly the English language dubbing weakens the impact of many scenes, but the visuals are good and Dora's dream sequences are all quite creepy. Plus the film boasts one really, REALLY good jump-scare, which I'm sure you will remember, as it's a very clever one. It also has quite a bloody finale, to keep gore fans happy.
The Anchor Bay DVD is a good copy to buy, it's uncut, restoring some sequences that were trimmed from earlier VHS releases, especially those involving the young son's behaviour (I think you'll be able to spot the ones I mean!), and nicely presented too. Worth owning, even if it's not really that big a "shock" film, but it delivers an entertaining weird experience anyway.
A good movie........2007-03-26
Creepy atmosphere, great soundtrack, interesting story. A family moves back to a house with old memories. Strange things begin to happen as the woman's son begins to behave strangely. I don't want to go deeper into the story because it will ruin the movie. It is definetely worth watching, especially if you are a fan of Italian Cinema. I would recommend, worthy addition to your horror collection.
It Has Its Moments.......2007-01-28
This movie has some good moments although I won't say it's a masterpiece.
Probably the favorite character for me is the son.
The dead husband's ghost takes possession of the youth which causes him to start having un-natural feelings towards his mother. He steels some of her clothes for example when she's in the shower.
Finally she wakes up and the boy is on top of her. I guess you can read between the lines there. I'm waiting for the day when I watch some weird movie and they take this idea to another level. Probably nobody would ever go that far.
The boy develops powerful psycho kinetic abilities as a result of being possessed. He can cause a plane to crash simply by pushing a swing.
I like the son he's a good actor.
Other than that though this is a more or less typical Italian horror movie. Doors slamming, pianos playing, etc..
The new husband is giving the wife some type of drug. I don't know if he's really supposed to be the bad guy or what. I guess that's the idea of this movie you are never quite sure of who's the bad guy or what really happened.
Actually one interpretation is everyone in the entire movie is bad.
I would say the story is a little weak.
Still it's worth watching I would say.
Jeff Marzano
Possession ~ Isabelle Adjani, Sam Neill, Margit Carstensen, and Heinz Bennent (DVD - 1981)
Beyond the Darkness: Buio Omega ~ Kieran Canter, Cinzia Monreale, Franca Stoppi, and Sam Modesto (DVD - 1984)
The House with Laughing Windows ~ Lino Capolicchio, Francesca Marciano, Gianni Cavina, and Giulio Pizzirani (DVD - 1976)
The Beast (La bête) ~ Sirpa Lane, Lisbeth Hummel, Elisabeth Kaza, and Pierre Benedetti (DVD - 1977)
Damage ~ Jeremy Irons, Juliette Binoche, Miranda Richardson, and Rupert Graves (DVD - 1993)
My favorite Bava film.......2006-08-26
The only other Bava films I've seen are Bay of Blood and Black Sabbath, but Shock is my favorite. It seems to usually get lukewarm reviews from critics and horror movie fans for some reason. I remember seeing it on TV under the title Beyond The Door 2 and it freaked me out when I was younger. Some of the dialog is laughable, but maybe that's due to the dubbing and translation. It might sound much better in the original Italian. There's not a whole lot of gore, but enough surprises and weird imagery to keep one interested.
The dvd by anchor bay is very nice. It's great to see this movie in widescreen. (Italian horror films used to get such horrible pan and scan treatment on vhs back in the day.) It was also very cool to see the original Italian trailer and American TV spots. If you like this movie, you should get it as soon as possible because it's out of print and the price is only going to go up.
Average customer rating:
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Versus
Starring:
Chieko Misaki ,
Hideo Sakaki ,
Tak Sakaguchi ,
Kenji Matsuda , and
Chieko Misaka
Director:
Ryuhei Kitamura
Manufacturer: Tokyo Shock
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000C6NP8G
Release Date: 2006-02-14 |
Description
1 Disc, plus extra lart tee shirt!
DVD:
- Shock Waves
- Silent Night Deadly Night / Silent Night Deadly Night Part 2
- Sizzlin Torso - Belly Dance Instruction DVD Video
- Sleepaway Camp II - Unhappy Campers
- Sleepaway Camp Survival Kit (Movies 1-3)
- Sleepwalkers
- Slumber Party Massacre
- Snake Island
- Sometimes They Come Back / Sometimes They Come Back Again
- Spirits of the Dead
DVD
DVD