Horror Master’s ’80s Dark Comedy Slasher Needs To Be Seen By New Fans
Wes Craven had already developed a cult-horror following throughout the 1970s that stemmed from his dark films The Last House on the Left and The Hills Have Eyes. The unexpected hit A Nightmare on Elm Street in 1984 vaulted his career and led to the filmmaker having more choice projects and creative control than ever before. In 1989, Craven made arguably one of his greatest, though perhaps most unsung, films of his career when he wrote and directed the slasher flick, Shocker.
Parker’s Investigation
Shocker is the story of Los Angeles police detective Don Parker (Michael Murphy), a man on a mission to track down a brutal serial killer that has already taken 30 victims. But when the case is about to result in the killer’s exposure, Parker’s wife and two young children are murdered by the human monster. But the killer, television repairman Horace Pinker (Mitch Pileggi) and Parker’s surviving foster son Jonathan (Peter Berg) begin to connect through the young man’s dreams.
These dreams reveal Pinker’s whereabouts, but after police fail to apprehend him, Pinker stalks and kills Jonathan’s girlfriend Alison. This triggers another dream that succeeds in locating Pinker again, this time leading to his arrest, conviction, and death sentence. Strapped to the electric chair and moments away from death, Pinker reveals information about Jonathan that is a shocker to everyone.
Shocker Quickly Shows Its Namesake
Pinker’s last statement was admitting that he was Jonathan’s biological father. As a young kid, Jonathan had shot and wounded him in the leg in an attempt to stop Pinker from killing his mother. But what is later revealed in Shocker is a pact that Pinker made with the Devil, which gave him immortality in the form of transforming into electricity.
An Immortal, Electrifying Antagonist
After a graphic execution scene, Pinker is presumed dead. But his new form in Shocker allows for Pinker to possess the bodies of anyone he wants as he uses them to continue his murder spree. Pinker works his way through prisoners and prison staff before his electric form escapes the facility. It’s a race to put together a battle plan to fight a seemingly immortal killer before he becomes unstoppable.
Shocker combines the horror slasher and science fiction genres like only Wes Craven could deliver. The kill sequences are gory and creative, the plot line humorously ridiculous, and the jump scares well timed.
The Soundtrack Is As Great As The Film
Adding another element to Shocker‘s 80s appeal is the killer soundtrack. Megadeth performs a solid cover of Alice Cooper’s “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” Iggy Pop’s “Love Transfusion” hits all the right chords, and the self-titled theme song by The Dudes of Wrath (featuring Paul Stanley of KISS and Tommy Lee of Motley Crue) keeps the adrenaline pumping from the start. Additional tracks from Bonfire, Saraya, and Dangerous Toys give a heavy overlay to a riveting storyline.
Stream Shocker On Apple TV+
REVIEW SCORE
Shocker also gives fans great cameo appearances from genre staples Ted Raimi and Heather Langenkamp. Additionally, sharp eyes will see psychedelic guru Timothy Leary, Kane Roberts (guitarist from Alice Cooper’s band), John Tesh, and two of Craven’s children in small roles.
You can catch Shocker streaming on Apple TV+.
