COMBAT SHOCK (Buddy Giovinazzo, 1986) - from Severin Films in 2018!

[bruce holecheck]

From my Cinema Arcana FB Page:

“I go back there every night…” Add another excellent title to Severin Films’ 2018 roster – the much-requested Blu-Ray premiere of Buddy Giovinazzo’s legendary gut-punch, COMBAT SHOCK (1986)! Living in squalor since returning from a ‘Nam POW camp, damaged vet Frankie Dunlan wanders through his bleak existence, day after day, night after night. Spurred by his nagging wife and an endlessly-crying, Agent Orange-affected baby, he continues to hope for the means to turn things around, but the streets of New York only offer junkies, child prostitutes and worse, and eventually Frankie’s desperation leads him to a startling moment of clarity.

Even more relevant today than it was three decades ago, Giovinazzo’s nihilistic peek at the post-war breakdown of the American soldier remains a desolate, harrowing, nightmarish ride, just as it should. Filled with unforgettable sights—coat hanger fixes, brutal beatings, and that oven...—COMBAT SHOCK is unquestionably a depressing ride, but an extremely well-crafted one; you feel these characters and their situations, and it ain’t pleasant. Filmed as AMERICAN NIGHTMARE, the title was ultimately acquired by Troma, who added stock war footage to its opening and deleted some character beats and backstory to shorten the runtime for their general release. And while the company eventually issued an intact special edition in 2009, their DVD set still utilized older tape masters, which leads us to Severin’s upcoming Blu-Ray.

While it’s a little early for a specs announcement, you can pretty much guarantee the company will be performing a new restoration from its uncut elements—the first new scan the title’s seen in decades— and Giovinazzo himself has indicated the film’s wonderful synth soundtrack will also be included. As for extras, Severin co-founder David Gregory promises, “an embarrassment of riches.” Watch this space for further details!

© Bruce Holecheck, 2018