One night in a hotel, a psychiatrist murders his wife and the only witness to the crime, a woman staying in an adjacent room, goes into a state of catatonic shock as a result. The nefarious doctor then takes her under his wing in an attempt to silence her.
Shock is probably most significant now for boasting an early star billed performance from Vincent Price. This was in the years before he would become an acting superstar, most famous for giving deliciously hammy performances in a large number of horror films. In this one he is much less over-the-top but it suits the movie. This is a film-noir which is a psychological thriller rather than a horror film. It's quite a lean movie with little wastage and a trim running time, which I consider to be a good thing. Price is very good value, even in a more underplayed role, while the story-line is interesting enough. Beyond the early appearance of a soon-to-be major actor, there is nothing especially stand-out in Shock but, equally, it is a pretty solid and effective little thriller which is well worth your time.
Shock is probably most significant now for boasting an early star billed performance from Vincent Price. This was in the years before he would become an acting superstar, most famous for giving deliciously hammy performances in a large number of horror films. In this one he is much less over-the-top but it suits the movie. This is a film-noir which is a psychological thriller rather than a horror film. It's quite a lean movie with little wastage and a trim running time, which I consider to be a good thing. Price is very good value, even in a more underplayed role, while the story-line is interesting enough. Beyond the early appearance of a soon-to-be major actor, there is nothing especially stand-out in Shock but, equally, it is a pretty solid and effective little thriller which is well worth your time.