Sadly Over-hyped

One of the best films i have seen

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

Shock Corridor may have been "shocking" back in 1963, but it ain't so now.This grim, bleak, ugly story that focuses in on an arrogant journalist's misguided ambitions and his self-imposed stay, as a patient, at a mental hospital for the sake of a "scoop", had no real entertainment value to speak of.It was impossible for this viewer to relate to any of the characters in this morbid film (regardless of what side of the sanity fence they were on) for fear of catching the same screwy, scenery-chewing fever that they all seemed to have.I thought that Peter Breck (as character John Barrett) seriously needed to take some acting lessons. And, once again, Samuel Fuller as this film's director, let me down, big-time.

Samuel Fuller wrote, produced and directed this "expose" on mental institutions, with newspaper reporter Peter Breck having himself committed in order to crack a murder case from behind asylum walls. High-pitched, 'hard-hitting' potboiler both fascinates (because of the compelling milieu) and repels (because of the creaky, warhorse clichés and irresponsible melodrama). Breck isn't a strong enough or interesting enough actor to carry such a heavy load, and he's not helped by the mediocre supporting cast. Fuller also helmed the photography for the color hallucination sequences, which certainly break up the visual monotony but are ultimately silly instead of enlightening--much like the picture itself. ** from ****

I find the subject of insane asylums and mental hospitals fascinating. During the 1960s, my mother was hospitalized many times for severe anxiety. At one time she was in a state hospital and received weeks of shock therapy. With that said, here is my opinion of the film. Fuller worked on an extremely small budget and under pressure not to go over the budget. I believe the movie worked, because it was obvious he spent much of his time working with his actors, ensuring their characters were as real as possible. The intensity of the film gave way to an energetic tension. The acting was marvelous, except for one actress: Constance Towers: her acting was embarrassingly melodramatic. The scene where she sang and performed was too long. The extra time could have been used in the hospital scenes. I found the characters believable, but not much of the situation. Some of the patients were calm, others very excitable, and others prone to violence. The film did show patients receiving medication, but not enough to keep them calm. Where were the attendants when needed. Would they really allow the patients to interact without supervision?? Why no intercom system? And the nymphos allowed to attack a man severely? Why weren't they being watched? Do nymphos really act that way? I doubt it!Suffice to say, it is definitely worth watching

There are plenty of other movies out there, set inside of an insane asylum but yet still this movie manges to come across as something special.It's hard to say what to think about this movie and how to rate it, since it's really doing its own thing. Even though this is 1n 1963 movie, it doesn't in the slightest feels or looks like a 1963 movie. It reminded me more of a good 1940's film, with its atmosphere and approach to its film-making. Of course the fact that the movie is shot in black & white, also adds to this.It's mostly being a very minimalistic movie with its settings and writing. It's the sort of movie that slowly progresses, which I believe, suited the movie its premise perfectly, as the main character is slowing descending into madness. It's all somewhat predictable to be honest but it still is great to see how it all plays out in the movie.The movie is all about its atmosphere really. It really succeeds in getting a tense and unusual sense across. The movie is doing still plenty of original stuff with its story, also by inserting a more thriller type of plot line into it. It all basically makes "Shock Corridor" a great watch, though I'll admit that this movie is not just for everybody. It might be a bit too slow and unusual for that at times. But I strongly believe that the vast majority of those who watch this movie will not be disappointed by it.Well worth checking out, if this movie sounds and seems interesting to you.8/10 http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/