SYNOPSIS
ONE OF THE MOST NIHILISTIC AND UNCOMPROMISING INDEPENDENT FILMS OF THE '80s FROM ONE OF THE MOST PROVOCATIVE TALENTS IN CINEMA
"LIKE A BULLET TO THE HEAD…Giovinazzo's world is horrific and movie's conclusion will never be forgotten."
-Film Journal
“Combines the New York City angst of Taxi Driver, the gritty nihilism of Fassbinder and the unfiltered dementia of Eraserhead… ONE OF THE GREAT CULT FILMS OF THE 1980s."
SHOCK CINEMA
“Makes you want to slit your wrists!”
JOHN McNAUGHTON (Director, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer)
“RAW, NIGHTMARISH & ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATING…ranks among the most uncompromising and powerful indie films of the '80s.”
MITCH DAVIS (Director, Fantasia Film Festival)
Frankie Dunlan returns from Vietnam to find his life a festering sewer of poverty, hopelessness and violence. His wife is pregnant and hungry, and his one year old son is sick and deformed from exposure to Agent Orange. To make matters worse, they're all being evicted from their run-down hellhole apartment.
Frankie roams the streets looking for work but he finds only brutal street gangs and strung out junkies. Bodies litter the alleys. Underage prostitutes work the sidewalks. The entire society has flushed itself down the toliet. Yet Frankie doesn't give up hope.
At the end of the day Frankie goes home where his wife confronts him with the facts. She can't take it anymore and wants out. That's when Frankie has a moment of inspired desperation and tries to save his family. Tonight, one man finally makes his peace. Or perhaps not…
CAST
| Frankie Dunlan | Rick Giovinazzo |
| Cathy Dunlan | Veronica Stork |
| Paco | Mitch Maglio |
| Labo | Asaph Livni |
| Morbe | Nick Nasta |
| Mike | Michael Tierno |
CREDITS
| Director | Buddy Giovinazzo |
| Writer | Buddy Giovinazzo |
| Producers | Buddy Giovinazzo (producer) Jerry Giovinazzo (associate producer) Michael Herz (executive producer) Lloyd Kaufman (executive producer) Lori Labar (associate producer) |
| Original Music | Rick Giovinazzo |
| Cinematography | Stella Varveris |
| Film Editing | Buddy Giovinazzo |
| Makeup Department | Ralph Cordero Jeff Mathes Brian Powell Ed Varulo |
| Sound Department | Howie Murphy |
SPECIAL FEATURES
- American Nightmares (100 mins): The Never-Before-Seen Director's Cut
- Combat Shock (90 mins): The Troma Theatrical Cut
- Audio Commentary with Director Buddy Giovinazzo and Jorg Buttgereit (Nekromantik)
- Post-Traumatic, An American Nightmare (40 mins): All-new documentary exploring the continued impact and influence of Combat Shock, featuring: John McNaughton (Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer), Richard Stanley (Hardware, Dust Devil), William Lustig (Maniac), Jim Van Bebber (Deadbeat at Dawn, The Manson Family), Roy Frumkes (Street Trash), Mitch Davis (Fantasia Film Festival), Joe Kane (The Phantom at the Movies), Rick Sullivan (The Gore Gazette, his first interview in 20 years!), David Gregory (Severin Films), and more!
- The Early Works of Buddy Giovinazzo: Never-before-released short films and music videos, including: Jonathan of the Night, Mr. Robbie, The Lobotomy, and more!
- New interview with Buddy Giovinazzo on Combat Shock
- Der Combat: Buddy Giovinazzo and Lloyd Kaufman discuss Combat Shock at the 2006 Trominale in Berlin
- Unscarred: The first interview with Combat Shock star Rick Giovinazzo
- Hellscapes: Locations from the film as they appear today
- Press and Photo Gallery
- Original Theatrical Trailer
- Solider of Misfortune: New Liner Notes by Steve Puchalski (Shock Cinema, Slimetime)
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