Master of horror Wes Craven (Scream, A Nightmare On Elm Street) directs this exciting visual treat which introduces a diabolical mass murderer who harnesses electricity for unimaginable killing powers. About to be electrocuted for a catalog of heinous crimes, the unrepentant Horace Pinker transforms into a terrifying energy source. Only young athlete Jonathan Parker, with an uncanny connection to Pinker through bizarre dreams, can fight the powerful demon. The two dive in and out of television programs, chasing each other from channel to channel through stunning scenes of disaster, game shows, and old reruns.

Featuring a dazzling blend of eye-popping special effects and an electrifying soundtrack, Shocker stars actor/director Peter Berg (actor: Smokin’ Aces, director: Lone Survivor), Michael Murphy (X-Men: The Last Stand, Batman Returns), Ted Raimi (Evil Dead II, Candyman), and Mitch Pileggi (The X-Files, Sons Of Anarchy).

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Video Quality

Scream Factory presents Shocker with a stellar 2160p transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio sourced from a new 4K restoration of the Original Camera Negative with Dolby Vision/HDR. This film was originally released on Blu-Ray by the label in 2015 which was derived from an older master. While we have never seen that release, we understand that there was a high degree of processing applied that left an unnatural, smeary image. Thankfully, this is not the case here as we have sumptuous natural film grain which brings out a cavalcade of unique texture in the environments, the costumes, the goopy special effects, and more. This grain resolves consistently with nothing ever appearing clumpy or swarming throughout either the daytime or nighttime scenes. This disc executes every environmental shift with precision.

The special effects are one of the only elements that do not look nearly pristine thanks to the effects used. The process of showing our “electrified” villain is dated but is accurate to how it was exhibited. Otherwise, there is a ton of detail in terms of gore and distinct pieces of production design. This transfer has done an admirable job of cleaning up any print damage with very little in the way of specks or dirt remaining. Dolby Vision is another standout aspect of the disc that brings out a world of depth and nuance even in the most shadowy spaces. The new presentation reaches a level of precision and color detail that likely improves upon the original run in theaters. Black levels are mighty with no blatant crush present, and the highlights remain firm and never get too hot. This is topped off by a fabulous encode that does not succumb to any dips in quality. Wes Craven fans will be stoked to own this one in the finest quality.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with the previously available DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio stereo track and a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio surround sound track along with a new Dolby Atmos track, all of which bring this story to life perfectly. The original stereo track is the way to go for purists, but the Atmos track expands things in subtle yet effective ways that do not throw off the original sonic intentions of the experience. The rockin’ tunes and the William Goldstein score sound excellent without a hint of damage or weakness. All of this helps set an appropriate tone that achieves what it sets out to do. Environmental noises such as the flowing of electricity or the sounds of weapons firing come through with impeccable quality. Dialogue springs forthwith perfect clarity even during the more bustling developments. The fidelity of the movie is in top form no matter the sonic demands. The low end of the track provides some texture, but it does not get too invasive even in the 5.1 or Atmos tracks. Scream Factory provided a lovely audio experience for this one. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentaries: Two commentary tracks are provided in which the talent behind the film discusses the shooting locations, working with the performers, the direction of Wes Craven, the special effects, technical aspects of the production, the cinematography and so much more that is an absolute delight to delve into for fans.

- Audio Commentary #1: Director Of Photography Jacques Haitkin, Co-Producer Robert Engelman and Composer William Goldstein

- Audio Commentary #2: Writer/Director Wes Craven

Shock Me – Interview with Actor Peter Berg: A new ten-minute interview with the star in which he discusses getting involved with the movie, what he learned from Wes Craven, memories of his fellow performers, personal easter eggs in the film, and more.

The Chaos and The Calm – Interview with Composer William Goldstein: A new nine-minute interview with the composer in which he discusses dipping his toe into genre films because of Wes Craven, pioneering work on the computer for film composition, developing a sound for this film, and more.

She’s Electric – Interview with Production Designer Cynthia Charette: A new nine-minute interview with the production designer who discusses how she got this job, the joy of working with Wes Craven, crafting the look of various spaces, and more.

Cable Guy – Interview with Actor Mitch Pileggi: An 18-minute interview with the actor who discusses the fun of playing a villain, his background in performing, working with Wes Craven, the original role he read for, and more.

Alison’s Adventures – Interview with Actress Cami Cooper: A 17-minute interview with the actress who discusses what this film meant to her, working with Wes Craven, what it was like to film her death scene, how they achieved certain special effects, and more.

It’s Alive – Interview with Executive Producer Shep Gordon: A 12-minute interview with the producer in which he discusses what a producer does, where he was at during this point in his career, what it is like working with Wes Craven, memories of creating the film, working on a limited budget, and more.

No More Mr. Nice Guy – The Music of Shocker: A 26-minute interview with music supervisor Desmond Child and soundtrack artists Bruce Kulick, Jason McMaster, Kane Roberts, and Dave Ellefson. There are some great insights into how this project was different from others, collaborating with Wes Craven, and more.

Theatrical Trailer (1:29)

TV Spots (1:04)

Radio Spots (1:09)

Vintage Making Of: A nine-minute archival piece that takes a broad look at the production of the film with on-set footage.

Storyboard Gallery (8:55)

Still Gallery (6:32)

Final Thoughts

Shocker is somewhere in the middle of the Wes Craven cinematic output with a debt owed to the darkly comedic supernatural terror of A Nightmare On Elm Street. This equally high concept outing finds the filmmaker dabbling in outlandish territory that is quite engaging even if it is not particularly spine-tingling. Mitch Pileggi is an effective villain who keeps you guessing even when the movie begins to teeter off the rails near the end. It may not be a stone cold classic, but it is very much worth your time if you enjoy the filmmaker. Scream Factory has provided this one with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release that boasts a knockout A/V presentation and a marvelous array of special features. This new presentation is the ultimate way to own this underrated horror oddity. Recommended

Shocker (Collector’s Edition) is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD + Blu-Ray Combo Pack.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Scream Factory has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.