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The Disaster that is “Shocking Dark”
My goodness, where do I even begin with this? “Shocking Dark” is an absolute trainwreck of a movie. Directed by Bruno Mattei and released in 1989, it was marketed as an Italian knockoff of “Aliens” and “Terminator”. However, it falls far short of any comparison to those classics.
Storyline
The storyline goes like this: In a post-apocalyptic future, Venice has become toxic due to pollution and radiation. The government sends a team to investigate reports of mutated creatures in the city’s underground tunnels. Meanwhile, a group of soldiers sent on the same mission mysteriously disappear. The government then sends another team, which includes two cyborgs named Samuel Fuller (yes, named after the director) and Lieutenant Franzini, who are meant to guard the scientists during their mission.
Plot
The plot thickens when it turns out that the mutated creatures are not aliens (shocker), but rather humans who have been infected by a virus that turns them into monsters. Oh, and the virus is also being used by a mad scientist named Dr. Sara, who is trying to create a new race of perfect beings (because why not?). The rest of the movie follows our heroes as they try to stop Dr. Sara and her army of mutant humans.
Casts
The cast is made up mostly of unknown Italian actors, with only a few recognizable faces like Christopher Ahrens (who plays Samuel Fuller) and Geretta Geretta (who plays Lieutenant Franzini). Their performances are nothing to write home about, but that’s not entirely their fault. The script is utterly terrible, filled with clunky dialogue and nonsensical plot points.
Opinion on Acting and Characters
The characters themselves are so one-dimensional that it’s hard to care about any of them. Samuel Fuller is your typical tough-as-nails soldier who spouts cheesy one-liners throughout the movie. Lieutenant Franzini is the stoic cyborg who eventually develops feelings for Samuel. Dr. Sara is the mad scientist whose motivations are never adequately explained.
History
“Shocking Dark” is just one of many low-budget Italian knockoffs that were made in the 80s and 90s. These movies had a reputation for being cheaply made, poorly acted, and downright ridiculous. Unfortunately, “Shocking Dark” doesn’t even have the campy charm that some of these other movies possess.
Score and Popularity
The score is forgettable at best. The cheesy synthesizer music is supposed to create tension but instead comes off as cheesy. As for popularity, “Shocking Dark” was never released theatrically in the US and only saw a limited release overseas. It quickly disappeared into obscurity, and it’s not hard to see why.
Evaluation
In terms of filmmaking, “Shocking Dark” is an utter disaster. The special effects are laughable (the monster suits look like they were made out of paper mache), the production design is uninspired (most of the movie takes place in a dark tunnel), and the editing is choppy (scenes don’t flow together smoothly). It’s clear that the filmmakers had no idea what they were doing.
Cinematography
The cinematography is equally terrible. Most of the movie is shot in dimly lit tunnels, which makes it hard to see what’s going on. When there are action scenes, the camera work is shaky and disorienting. There’s also a bizarre green filter used throughout the movie that is supposed to make it look futuristic but instead just makes it look cheap.
Gossip
There isn’t much gossip surrounding “Shocking Dark”, but there is one interesting tidbit. The movie was originally released in Italy under the title “Terminator II”. However, James Cameron threatened legal action over the use of his franchise’s name (even though “Shocking Dark” has nothing to do with the Terminator), so the title was changed.
Soundtracks
As mentioned earlier, the soundtrack is forgettable at best. There are a few instances where songs are used (like a weird dance scene), but they don’t add anything to the movie.
Analysis
It’s challenging to find anything redeemable about “Shocking Dark”. The production values are low, the acting is terrible, and the script is nonsensical. There are a few unintentionally funny moments, but they are few and far between. If you’re a fan of bad movies, you may get some enjoyment out of “Shocking Dark”, but for everyone else, it’s best to stay far away from this disaster.
Special Effects
The special effects in “Shocking Dark” are hilariously bad. The monster suits look like they were made by a high school drama club, and the explosions are clearly done with miniatures. There’s even a scene where an actor’s hand can be seen pushing one of the monsters along a track. It’s like watching a low-budget sci-fi movie from the 50s.
Dialogue
The dialogue in “Shocking Dark” is cringe-worthy at best. The characters spout off cheesy one-liners throughout the movie that feel forced and unnatural. It’s clear that the writers were trying to emulate James Cameron’s snappy dialogue from “Aliens”, but they failed miserably.
Crews
The crew of “Shocking Dark” is made up mostly of Italian filmmakers who had worked on other low-budget movies. It’s clear that they were trying to capitalize on the success of “Aliens” and “Terminator”, but they didn’t have the talent or skill to pull it off. It’s a shame because with a better script and more talented crew, “Shocking Dark” could have been a fun B-movie.
Production
The production of “Shocking Dark” was incredibly low budget, and it shows. Most of the movie takes place in a dark tunnel, which was probably done to save money on sets. The monster suits look like they were made out of paper mache, and the cyborg makeup is laughable. It’s clear that the filmmakers had very little money and resources at their disposal.
Criticism
The criticism surrounding “Shocking Dark” is well deserved. It’s a terrible movie that fails on every level. The acting is bad, the special effects are terrible, and the script is nonsensical. There are very few redeeming qualities about this movie.
Conclusion
“Shocking Dark” is a terrible movie that should be avoided at all costs. It’s an uninspired knockoff of “Aliens” and “Terminator” that fails on every level. The acting is bad, the special effects are laughable, and the script is nonsensical. There’s really nothing more to say about this disaster of a film.