Originally released in the United States as Beyond the Door II, Shock is a modern ghost story with a whodunit twist. Dora Baldini (Daria Nicolodi), the wife of a successful pilot, Bruno Baldini (John Steiner), moves into a home she once owned with her previous husband who died at sea. It’s not clear how he died; some point to suicide, others drug abuse.
Shortly after moving in, their son Marco (David Colin Jr.), begins acting strangely. He steals and shreds his mother's underwear, hides sharp objects around the home, and even tells his mother “I’m going to have to kill you." No one believes Dora when she brings this up. They make excuses like ‘he’s a growing boy’ and ‘moving is rough.' This denial of her experience and the continued haunting drive her to intense paranoia and, perhaps, delusion. Shock ends in an unexpected and bloody twist.
This flick is excellent. Though it’s a bit slow at the beginning and lacks some exposition, Shock keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat with suspenseful possession scenes, devious plots by the ghost to harm Dora and Bruno, and nightmarish haunting scenes. Less and less adds up for Dora as she investigates the problems with her son. Her husband secretly drugging her in the hope of aiding her sleep makes for some interesting and experimental visuals. There are many moments that may have inspired other directors such as a bleeding wall that predates Kubrick’s elevator scene in The Shining by three years.
Both the English and Italian versions are very watchable. While somewhat bizarre for a horror movie, the soundtrack can occasionally be downright funky. With stunning practical effects, Shock deserves consideration by anyone expanding their foreign or horror film collections. Shock is highly recommended.