While the ‘80s may very well have been the golden era of Horror, the ‘70s should not be overlooked. A decade which brought you some iconic Horror films – including The Exorcist in 1973, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in 1974, plus Dawn of the Dead and Halloween in 1978 – there were also many lesser-known titles emerging everywhere. In retrospect, it was a time when what is referenced as Exploitation films were regularly being made in high quantities. So, what exactly is Exploitation cinema? Well, it can mean many things, but to simplify matters, many attach the title ‘Exploitation’ to films that are lude, crude, cheaply made, and quite graphic. That in mind, some of the more recognized feature films from the ‘70s world of Horror that could be filed under Exploitation are The Last House on the Left and Blacula; both from 1972. Just a couple of examples, one lesser known that most certainly falls under the sub-genre is 1974’s Impulse.
A film directed by William Grefé (known for his list of low budget projects including 1970’s The Naked Zoo and 1976’s Mako: The Jaws of Death), Impulse actually included a very recognizable cast led by William Shatner of Star Trek fame, Ruth Roman (known as the leading lady in such films as 1944’s Harmony Trail), Harold Sakata (known for his role as OddJob in 1964’s Goldfinger), and Jennifer Bishop (Blood of Dracula’s Castle 1969, Hee Haw series). Made some time after the mass of success Shatner attained with the original Star Trek series (which aired from 1966 to 1969), apparently at one point in history, he did not look back all too fondly on his involvement with Impulse. In fact, he allegedly said – “I’ve forgotten why I was in it. I probably needed the money. It was a very bad time for me. I hope they burn it.” (a quote printed in the 1998 book The Encyclopedia Shatnerica: An A to Z Guide to the Man and His Universe)
Well, by some twist of faith, the negatives of Impulse were indeed destroyed at some point over the decades. However, Mr. Shatner did not completely have his wish granted… because rare archival 35mm film elements remained. Now, if Shatner was truly ashamed of the project, or being facetious at the time of a particular interview, remains to be seen. Regardless, Impulse’s legacy lives on thanks to fans, but also Grindhouse Releasing who brings it to Blu-ray in 2024. Arriving on March 12th as a two-disc Blu-ray set, simply put, this could be the most pristine presentation ever of Impulse.
Now, you have to remember that Impulse was made during the early 70s; a time where there were still no commercial home video options. So, unless you were around to see the film during its theatrical run between 1974-75, it would have been left to float in limbo for a while. Then, some time later, International Video printed the film to VHS… and the quality was less than decent. From here, it remained dormant until the early 2000s when it made the jump to DVD, but yet again, with a very poor image transfer. That is why it seems unfathomable that Grindhouse Releasing were able to not only get their hands on the 35mm film elements, but restore them in 4K!
No doubt putting a ton of footwork into all of this, the end result is the highest quality viewing experience of Impulse; one where the image is sharp, the audio pronounced, and the colors much more lively. Furthermore, beyond the actual 4K restoration, you also get a ton of extras; including interviews with the likes of William Grefé, alternative soundtracks, plus hours of rare items from Grefé’s archives. And if all of this was not enough, care and effort was also put into the physical package. Providing explanation, this includes a nice cardboard slipcase, reversible cover art, a postcard print of an original oil portrait of William Shatner, and a really insightful linear note booklet written by Jacques Boyreau.
Really going the extra mile, Grindhouse Releasing offer underground film fans everything they could want and more with this new release. Which leads us to Impulse itself… is it any good? Well, if you are someone who appreciates these types of films, absolutely. Now celebrating its 40th anniversary, the mood is plausibly morbid, many of the camera angles utilized are quite unique, and Shatner is rather compelling in his portrayal of a mentally disturbed man with a violent streak. All things considered, if you know of Impulse, or are simply just someone curious to give it a view, this special release is a must have. That is why Cryptic Rock gives Grindhouse Releasing’s two-disc Blu-ray edition of Impulse 5 out of 5 stars.
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