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Shock (1977) poster

Shock

dir. Mario Bava · 1977

Feature
Psychological Horror
Mood
Dark / Tense
Look
muted color palette with stark contrasts, claustrophobic framing, and unsettling close-ups
Structure
linear progression with psychological flashbacks
Plot

Dora Baldini, her husband Bruno, and her son Marco move to a huge house that belongs to her; she used to live there with Marco and her former husband, a drug addict who committed suicide. The house has stood empty since then, and Bruno, a pilot, has decided that they should move in since it is close to the airport. Soon Marco is possessed by the ghost of his father and Dora is haunted by the house. She tells Bruno that they need to leave the house and she is afraid of her son, but he believes she's relapsing since she had a breakdown when her husband died. Why is the vengeful spirit seeking revenge?

Why watch

Dora Baldini returns to her old family home, a place steeped in tragedy and haunted by the specter of her deceased husband. As her son Marco becomes possessed by his father's vengeful spirit, the walls of their new home close in, revealing the fragility of her mental state. Watching this film is like stepping into a nightmare where the familiar becomes terrifying, and the bonds of family twist into something sinister.

Cultural context
Italian horror cinema of the 1970sexploration of mental health stigmafamily dynamics in post-war Italy

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