Review of Shock Corridor (1963) by J D — 06 Sep 2010

Wow. I loved this movie. Loved it. It's now in my top 3. I just watched it and I love every black and white, dated acting, 60's technicolor minute of it. They don't have the intelligence nowadays to write one like this.

This isn't for the visual effects laden, high anxiety oriented, speed freak action with a tacked on story type.

This is a who done it, psychological thriller, one of the first done, and rather beautifully.

Keep things in perspective. This movie worked within the common guidelines accessible to actors and film makers of the day. There was certain ways to act, to write a script, etc. However, within this construct, the true ideas and brilliance of this movie comes through. Characterization is brilliant, memorable, and highlight the story and current events of that era, turning things on their ear for how absurd they really are, and even commenting on far more recent things as well. There's even violent nymphos, and what movie wouldn't be complete without them? Up to then, nothing like that has come along, but has been repeated since. The plot does a great job in making use of the various characters, and its impact on the lead, John.

This movie is almost an ode to Frankenstein in the way it shows the main character ( this is actually done in a lot of other stories in history but Frankenstein was the first an clearest connection I could make, so don't jump down my throat) undone by the insanity that is ambition.

On a personal note, I really don't like his girlfriend. To be honest, I'm not sure who I like in this picture, but she is not one of them. He did not warrant what she let them do to him. On the same note, he's no peach either. Still, if my girlfriend did that to me, she wouldn't be that way for long.

Side stepping the typical acting and everything else that comes with movies made in that particular time period, I do have a few gripes.

No need for lists, just brief statements. There were occasions where the editing between shots were far too brief, as it not even enough time to process what you were looking at brief. another thing was an extraneous amount of repetition in the lines which were totally unnecessary. You can pick them out, there obvious upon one viewing, but maybe that's just me. For the overall flow of the piece, I think they could have done without the subliminal shot cuts and repeats.

Other than that, I'm sold. It's an A, which is a feat for a movie that is so dated in execution. this will be my first 100 percent ripe rating, which I am sad to say, considering all the movies I have seen, recently and throughout my life, and that I am doing it for a movie that people can so obviously not get into, but, in the end, everything is subjective anyway. So suck it if you don't like it... I guess... is what I'm... ugh, saying.

Most people won't give it that. I know. I'm not most people. If your a normal person, you probably will rate this between a C and a B, and probably have the tomato meter around a 70, give or take 15 points if your sane. Go any lower than that, and you might run the risks of being too culture shocked; a.k.a., not being able to get through a movie without, color, c.g.i., nudity, a current star, cell phones, rap music, sex... too caugh up in your own time to appreciate anything old, but always ready accept the next new, bright, shinny, marketed, overpriced, hyped movie your told to like because you can't think for yourself. wait. What was I saying?

Rent it or borrow it, if you can find it, and buy it if it fits you. In my opinion, better than Casablanca, which I can't even sit through without falling asleep. This is an early 60's movie that is very odd in that way. You know, that it doesn't feel 3 hours long for the first 30 minutes where nothing happens ( cough, cough, Gone With the Wind, cough, cough,). Anyway, I would buy it... if it wasn't overpriced. Thanks Criterion Collection. It sucks. It would have sat nicely next to my Public Enemy dvd. I'm sorry, but I refuse to pay five bucks more than I would pay for a brand new one. Things are suppose to depreciate in price as they get older, especially certain forms of art. You can read Frankenstein for free online and you expect me to pay almost 30 bucks for... never mind. At least I can watch The invisible Man for free. I guess I'll wait until I can get it for the price that it's worth, and not the price it's inflated to.