Review of Shock Corridor (1963) by Joseph B — 17 Apr 2016
The depths that Johnny (Peter Breck) would go to in order to win a Pulitzer Prize is remarkable. He would risk his health and sanity for an award to boost his career. He even drags his girlfriend Cathy (Constance Towers) into the abyss with him. Johnny poses as a mental patient in order to gain admittance to a mental institution to solve a murder. This is the basis of Samuel Fuller's 1963 film "Shock Corrider.".
Johnny is coached by an imminent psychiatrist to appear insane and to fabricate stories of incest with his "sister" unwittingly played by his girlfriend. Three witnesses witness the murder. All three were productive members of society until the stresses of war, bigotry and nuclear war regressed them into thinking they were Confederate soldiers, Ku Klux Klan members and six year old kids. Johnny is able to receive information from the three in little periods of time when they become rational before they fall apart again into a case of their delusions.
This is masterfully directed by Samuel Fuller and it's a shocking, disturbing film that shows in 100 minutes how fragile the human mind can be at times.
This review of Shock Corridor (1963) was written by Joseph B on 17 Apr 2016.
Shock Corridor has generally received positive reviews.
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