Combat Shock! (2-Disc Uncut 25th Anniversary Edition)

When I worked for Troma in the 80's, I had no money and lived in the rat infested offices of the old Troma Building in Hell's Kitchen at 733 Ninth Avenue. Every night while I was in this situation, I would go out and grab food and supplies before the downstairs door to the three floor walk-up was closed.

Because the neighborhood was teeming with junkies, thieves, pimps, hookers, and muggers a stainless steel roll down door was pulled down over the only entrance to the street and secured with two thick Schlage police locks from the outside.

So like a prisoner, I was "in" for the night...

My nightlife back in those days was limited to watching Troma movies on VHS in the distribution office on the third floor until I nodded off.

One night, I pulled "Combat Shock" from the stacks and watched it alone in the musty darkness of Troma Inc, as rats skittered in the periphery.

This unflinching, gut punch movie was engrossing, disturbing and brilliant. By the end I was terrified and freaked out that I was trapped inside the building until morning.

"Combat Shock" is the most under-rated independent film ever made in my opinion. It is gritty, personal, violent, honest and unsettling, but above all it is BRILLIANT! The director, Buddy Giovinazzo, who I soon met after seeing this is a genius in every sense of the word - and a humble nice guy.

This was classic New York, gritty In your face FUCK YOU filmmaking.

This year, Lars Von Trier "shocked" Cannes with "Anti-Christ."

If played on a double bill, "Combat Shock" would make "Anti-Christ" look like "Hannah Montana: The Movie." I am not shitting you.

This re-release looks like a definitive exploration of Buddy G's "Combat Shock," and any Indie cinephile or filmmaker would do well to see it.

It is certainly prescient in todays atmosphere of international turmoil.

Troma has just released Combat Shock in a brand new 2 Disc Uncut Anniversary Edtion, which includes a mini documentary with filmmakers like John McNaughton, William Lustig and Jim VanBeeber.

You can find it here... http://bit.ly/CombatShock

I cannot recommend you buy and watch, "Combat Shock," this incredible challenging work of art... I DARE YOU. I DARE YOU TO WATCH IT!

You will never be the same...

by Pericles Lewnes
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Pericles_Lewnes
Indie Film Curator
current.com
Twitter User: loopmovie