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When you ask people what the best film based on the Vietnam war, you would probably get a varied (if not typical) response: Platoon , Hamburger Hill , First Blood ... Some people with little to no taste would possibly even suggest Forrest Gump (You may respond to said selection with extreme prejudice, you have our endorsement.) They are all wrong however. (Unless you're Rhonda: who recommends the literary standpoint and teaches The Things They Carried .)

That aside - Why are the majority dead wrong? Because they have clearly never seen this Troma Entertainment classic. I can't say that I blame them either, because until recently I had not seen it either. Which is inexcusable, because it's not like the film was not available. It's been available on VHS for years, and when Troma switched over to DVD Combat Shock was one of the first of their library to get a DVD release. However, I am glad I waited. Recently, Troma has begun a special series of releases as part of their "Tromasterpiece Collection", a selection of their greatest films re-released with even more material than their previous DVD releases. Now the Troma Team are masters of self promotion, and they will find the artistic merit in just about everything they release (and Lloyd and Co. sincerely mean it) but the Tromasterpiece Collections are far from idle boasts. Combat Shock is more than worthy of the distinction, it stands in my opinion it is among the best of films Troma has to offer.

The benefit of getting the Tromasterpiece edition of this film is because for the first time ever, you can see the uncut version of the film (originally titled American Nightmares). Prior to it's début in theaters, Troma had to get the movie reviewed and rated by the MPAA. As any long time Trom fan can tell you, the MPAA is notorious for requesting massive cuts in every Troma movie that they have reviewed before they were allowed to be played in theatres. Because of this, the film had to be cut and was also retitled (to Combat Shock) to suit this demand. As such, movie lovers have been denied the full impact of this film, which is a travesty. However, I will save my rants about the MPAA, and their draconian film rating system for another time. I will add however, that having watched both versions of the film, it's very clear to me they care nothing about the contextual story telling elements of a films subject matter and it's importance to story telling in favor for keeping the Conservative minority happy that America's youth is being protected by ideas that don't fit their Judeo-Christian mindset.

American Nightmares is not a nice film. It's not a happy film. If you are looking for a happy ending, don't bother popping this movie in the DVD player. Perhaps we went into the War expecting a happy ending - but hopefully, we all know better now.

The film follows the life of Frankie, who after a falling out with his father over marrying his true love, Cathy, is drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. While on his tour, something horrible happened that led to his incarceration by the Viet Cong, and spending months in a military infirmary following his rescue. It's something horrible, and most frightening of all -- he cannot remember, yet it constantly haunts his dreams.

Discharged from the military, he returns home and it's far from an ideal welcoming. He's unemployed, broke, and because of his exposure to chemical agents released on him by his own military, the couple give birth a son with serious birth defects. When we first meet Frankie he's waking up from another nightmare of memories only vaguely remembered, and we find out that his family is at it's breaking point.

Cathy is pressuring him to get a job and do something about their money problems; however, in spite of the fact that Frankie doesn't have any usable job skills he has been out there trying to find some sort of solution. "I'm trying to find a job," he tells her, and she responds by saying, "You're not looking for a job... you're waiting for the world to end"

Things aren't going great for Frankie, and they are just about to get worse, as when Cathy goes to the bathroom she is quick to tell him that their toilet is broken and she needs him to fix it. As he is putting on his shoes, one of the laces snaps. This frustrates him visibly, because he can't even afford to buy a new one. Trying to fix the toilet is another lesson in futility. He lifts the toilet seat to find it full of defecation and tries to stifle a gag. His hopeless attempts to fix the toilet are an apt metaphor for the course of his life situation: It doesn't matter how much he tries to fiddle and jiggle things the shit still stays, festering and growing more fetid and putrid with time.

Another argument ensues: "Why don't you just call your father?" Cathy pleads. This strikes more discord between the already troubled couple. Ah, the turbulence between father and son of years past is still fresh in Frankie's mind. He refuses to call his father, "I have no father" he spits in an epitaph about his father filled with venom and hate. I wonder if it's stubbornness or pride that prevents Frankie from calling his father? Both? What's worse for a child than to make a decision that their parents frown upon, only to fail miserably and have to crawl back to that parent like a whipped cur asking for a bail out? From experience (granted my life is roses compared to poor Frankie here) it's not a pleasant experience. No matter how bad the situation, pride it seems, is the hardest pill to swallow and the one to certainly choke you.

Frankie assures her that today he will find a job. Unfortunately Frankie is no Anton Ricci and there is no poster paint and a shiny new bike in his future to grant his family salvation, even if he had the linen to pawn off to begin with. Things for Frankie are just going to get even more bleak: an eviction letter from his landlord for months of unpaid rent, and nothing to drink but a carton of sour milk.

The outside world doesn't provide Frankie with much niceties either, mind you Frankie has brought this next one upon himself: He owes Paco, a local gang leader a sum of money and Paco intends to collect. Pleading to Paco that he needs more time to get the money to pay him back, Paco and his goons rough him up but grant him a one day reprieve, or else. Or else what? Buddy Giovivnazzo's harsh reality does not mince words, and Paco is very straight forward about what will happen: Frankie's wife and kid would be forced into prostitution. The fact that Frankie's son is only a year old and has serious birth defects are not lost on these thugs either. "I hear people pay extra for retards," quips one of Paco's goons.

Frankie knows full well that it's very unlikely he will have the money that Paco wants, even more distressing he's very aware Paco knows this as well and this is all just another little game of domination for the crook. Nonetheless, Frankie continues his fruitless quest to find money, and as he travels he flashes back to his experiences in 'Nam, remembering bits and pieces of the horror he experienced there and just barely managed to survive.

We next meet Eddie, a friend of Frankie's and a junkie on the throes of heroin withdrawal. Visibly sick, he is at the point where he will do just about anything to get his next fix. Armed with a gun, this would also include robbing someone at gun point. He almost mugs Frankie, until he realizes it's his friend. In spite of the fact he is a convulsing, screaming, vomiting, and temperamental user with a gun, he at least is not desperate to mug a friend -- yet. A small mercy in Frankie's cruel world, you can almost like Eddie because in spite of everything else wrong with him, he has a sense of loyalty to his friends.

However, Ed is just as broke and in desperation and is ready to rob a girl to get money for his next fix. Frankie warns him to not do anything stupid, especially with a loaded gun because he could end up in jail. "Jail would be better than this," Eddie responds before rushing off to mug a woman. In a way you know he's right: Compared to this bleak existence, jail would be a salvation for this miserable wretch. "Eddie," says Frankie "if I get any money, I will give you some." Your heart breaks a little at this. Frankie probably means it, but we all know his situation and he probably feels that chances are slim he will find some, and that makes it feel almost like a lie. You get to like Frankie that much more, in spite of how bad things are he would still help out a friend in need.

Back on the home front, Cathy is spending her day scrounging for food, slaving over a sink to wash clothes, and look after the baby. She turns on the TV and it doesn't work properly, it's image is distorted. Heaped on everything else she is not even allowed the comfort and escapism television can often provide.

Meanwhile, Frankie is waiting in the unemployment line, stuck with the jeering rubes who populate it, and the gawking eyes of those who are better off who happen to be passing by. With no job prospects, and welfare a dim hope, Frankie is forced to walk the streets once more and figure out what he's going to do. As he walks through the slums seeing all manners of degradation his mind wanders back to Vietnam. He is beginning to remember a slaughter of villagers and being tortured, but can't remember why these things came to be.

Eddie, in the meantime has successfully robbed a woman and is trying to barter the possessions he lifted off her to Paco -- when this isn't enough to score the amount of drugs he wants he even offers his pistol, Paco wants nothing to do with the obviously hot weapon. Eddie eventually settles for a lesser amount, unaware that Paco -- finding Eddie's profitability at an end and his ability to be tolerable non-existent -- has given his men the nod to hand the junkie a poisoned dose sure to kill him instead of get him high. Unaware of this treachery, he goes to an underpass that is popular for shooting up to find a discarded needle. Not finding one, Eddie instead decides to apply the powder directly to his blood stream, as Paco anticipated Eddie dies of a drug overdose. Ironically, his body is found by the very woman who robbed him and she takes from him his only possessions: His gun and a box of extra bullets.

As this is happening Frankie is remembering more and more about his experiences in 'Nam, being tortured by the Viet Cong and his time in a military infirmary. He also witnesses some of the atrocities that happen in New York City. Picture this: Frankie gets between two little girls who are having a petty argument. He pulls one of them aside, a girl could be no older than 10 years old and he has a conversation with her. He cheers her up, they have a few jokes and then he is grabbed -- not by a concerned parent who thinks he is a child predator, but a pimp who's think he's trying to get free service. Frankie is horrified and disgusted this little girl is forced into prostitution, when he asks the pimp how he feels about it Frankie gets a beating and a threat or seven for his trouble.

Finally, with the day growing long Frankie has nothing to show for his days travels and realizes he has no other options, swallows his pride, and calls his father. Buddy G. shows us the home that Frankie's father lives in: a gated mansion. We are given a glimmer of hope, this could be salvation for Frankie and his family, all problems solved. What a promising little carrot being dangled in front of us, isn't it, Dear Reader?

He tearfully tells his son he has lost everything and is a dying man. Frankie pleads to his father for help, any kind at all, because he has no job, he has a wife and a kid, with a second one on it's way. That's right, there is a lot more on Frankie's plate than originally introduced. Waiting until now to drop this bombshell on the viewer will make your heart sink even deeper for Frankie's plight. His father however is overwhelmed, with old wounds ripped open once again, through an emotion choked voice tells his son there is nothing he can do, and hangs up. Salvation lost.

With no other choice, Frankie gives in to his desperation; the continued survival of his family would depend on it. Like a modern day Ricci, Frankie decides to steal. Fate adds a cruel twist and he grabs the purse of the very woman who robbed Eddie's corpse and bolts for it. This isn't a clean getaway either, far from, because he is spotted by Paco and his gang who chase after him -- unlikely for any chivalrous reasons. Frankie gives them a good chase but they manage to catch up and give him a beating, and wrest the purse from his hand, however they are completely unaware of the fully loaded pistol that drops from it's contents in the scuffle.....

After an explosive retribution as the film draws to its climax, the story twists down even further down it's darkening path to an unkind end. Decisions are made, there is one dark revelation which leads to one bleak and horrifying resolution, the likes of which are shocking but I will not spoil them here. It is a powerful ending, and it punctuates the hopelessness of these characters' lives. A tragic ending for tragic people. Buddy G. offers no quarter, and no remorse. This ending is far from happy, but it's the perfect ending. This is not Hollywood. There are no wild parties with free flowing drinks and Hawaiian shirts, no lottery wins, no hope, no future, deux ex machina went on vacation and in filling its absence is futility.

As I stated at the beginning, this film is more than worth of the distinction of a masterpiece, and of all the films I have seen in recent history it is the most powerful, raw and emotional film I can recall. I strongly recommend this tragedy to anyone who can appreciate that not all stories have a happy ending, and in the end even the biggest losers still have more to lose.


		Buddy Giovinazzo's Combat Shock (AKA American Nightmares) Review by Nick Peron When you ask people what the best film based on the Vietnam war, you would probably get a varied (if not typical) response: Platoon , Hamburger Hill , First Blood ... Some people with little to no taste would possibly even suggest Forrest Gump (You may respond to said selection with extreme prejudice, you have our endorsement.) They are all wrong however. (Unless you're Rhonda: who recommends the literary standpoint and teaches The Things They Carried .) That aside - Why are the majority dead wrong? Because they have clearly never seen this Troma Entertainment classic. I can't say that I blame them either, because until recently I had not seen it either. Which is inexcusable, because it's not like the film was not available. It's been available on VHS for years, and when Troma switched over to DVD Combat Shock was one of the first of their library to get a DVD release. However, I am glad I waited. Recently, Troma has begun a special series of releases as part of their "Tromasterpiece Collection", a selection of their greatest films re-released with even more material than their previous DVD releases. Now the Troma Team are masters of self promotion, and they will find the artistic merit in just about everything they release (and Lloyd and Co. sincerely mean it) but the Tromasterpiece Collections are far from idle boasts. Combat Shock is more than worthy of the distinction, it stands in my opinion it is among the best of films Troma has to offer. The benefit of getting the Tromasterpiece edition of this film is because for the first time ever, you can see the uncut version of the film (originally titled American Nightmares). Prior to it's début in theaters, Troma had to get the movie reviewed and rated by the MPAA. As any long time Trom fan can tell you, the MPAA is notorious for requesting massive cuts in every Troma movie that they have reviewed before they were allowed to be played in theatres. Because of this, the film had to be cut and was also retitled (to Combat Shock) to suit this demand. As such, movie lovers have been denied the full impact of this film, which is a travesty. However, I will save my rants about the MPAA, and their draconian film rating system for another time. I will add however, that having watched both versions of the film, it's very clear to me they care nothing about the contextual story telling elements of a films subject matter and it's importance to story telling in favor for keeping the Conservative minority happy that America's youth is being protected by ideas that don't fit their Judeo-Christian mindset. American Nightmares is not a nice film. It's not a happy film. If you are looking for a happy ending, don't bother popping this movie in the DVD player. Perhaps we went into the War expecting a happy ending - but hopefully, we all know better now. This movie is about being bleak, it's about depression, it's about desperation, it's about despair, it's about destitution, The film follows the life of Frankie, who after a falling out with his father over marrying his true love, Cathy, is drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. While on his tour, something horrible happened that led to his incarceration by the Viet Cong, and spending months in a military infirmary following his rescue. It's something horrible, and most frightening of all -- he cannot remember, yet it constantly haunts his dreams. Discharged from the military, he returns home and it's far from an ideal welcoming. He's unemployed, broke, and because of his exposure to chemical agents released on him by his own military, the couple give birth a son with serious birth defects. When we first meet Frankie he's waking up from another nightmare of memories only vaguely remembered, and we find out that his family is at it's breaking point. They are poor, they are hungry, the baby is sick, and it never stops crying. Cathy is pressuring him to get a job and do something about their money problems; however, in spite of the fact that Frankie doesn't have any usable job skills he has been out there trying to find some sort of solution. "I'm trying to find a job," he tells her, and she responds by saying, "You're not looking for a job... you're waiting for the world to end" Things aren't going great for Frankie, and they are just about to get worse, as when Cathy goes to the bathroom she is quick to tell him that their toilet is broken and she needs him to fix it. As he is putting on his shoes, one of the laces snaps. This frustrates him visibly, because he can't even afford to buy a new one. Trying to fix the toilet is another lesson in futility. He lifts the toilet seat to find it full of defecation and tries to stifle a gag. His hopeless attempts to fix the toilet are an apt metaphor for the course of his life situation: It doesn't matter how much he tries to fiddle and jiggle things the shit still stays, festering and growing more fetid and putrid with time. Another argument ensues: "Why don't you just call your father?" Cathy pleads. This strikes more discord between the already troubled couple. Ah, the turbulence between father and son of years past is still fresh in Frankie's mind. He refuses to call his father, "I have no father" he spits in an epitaph about his father filled with venom and hate. I wonder if it's stubbornness or pride that prevents Frankie from calling his father? Both? What's worse for a child than to make a decision that their parents frown upon, only to fail miserably and have to crawl back to that parent like a whipped cur asking for a bail out? From experience (granted my life is roses compared to poor Frankie here) it's not a pleasant experience. No matter how bad the situation, pride it seems, is the hardest pill to swallow and the one to certainly choke you. Frankie assures her that today he will find a job. Unfortunately Frankie is no Anton Ricci and there is no poster paint and a shiny new bike in his future to grant his family salvation, even if he had the linen to pawn off to begin with. Things for Frankie are just going to get even more bleak: an eviction letter from his landlord for months of unpaid rent, and nothing to drink but a carton of sour milk. The outside world doesn't provide Frankie with much niceties either, mind you Frankie has brought this next one upon himself: He owes Paco, a local gang leader a sum of money and Paco intends to collect. Pleading to Paco that he needs more time to get the money to pay him back, Paco and his goons rough him up but grant him a one day reprieve, or else. Or else what? Buddy Giovivnazzo's harsh reality does not mince words, and Paco is very straight forward about what will happen: Frankie's wife and kid would be forced into prostitution. The fact that Frankie's son is only a year old and has serious birth defects are not lost on these thugs either. "I hear people pay extra for retards," quips one of Paco's goons. Frankie knows full well that it's very unlikely he will have the money that Paco wants, even more distressing he's very aware Paco knows this as well and this is all just another little game of domination for the crook. Nonetheless, Frankie continues his fruitless quest to find money, and as he travels he flashes back to his experiences in 'Nam, remembering bits and pieces of the horror he experienced there and just barely managed to survive. We next meet Eddie, a friend of Frankie's and a junkie on the throes of heroin withdrawal. Visibly sick, he is at the point where he will do just about anything to get his next fix. Armed with a gun, this would also include robbing someone at gun point. He almost mugs Frankie, until he realizes it's his friend. In spite of the fact he is a convulsing, screaming, vomiting, and temperamental user with a gun, he at least is not desperate to mug a friend -- yet. A small mercy in Frankie's cruel world, you can almost like Eddie because in spite of everything else wrong with him, he has a sense of loyalty to his friends. However, Ed is just as broke and in desperation and is ready to rob a girl to get money for his next fix. Frankie warns him to not do anything stupid, especially with a loaded gun because he could end up in jail. "Jail would be better than this," Eddie responds before rushing off to mug a woman. In a way you know he's right: Compared to this bleak existence, jail would be a salvation for this miserable wretch. "Eddie," says Frankie "if I get any money, I will give you some." Your heart breaks a little at this. Frankie probably means it, but we all know his situation and he probably feels that chances are slim he will find some, and that makes it feel almost like a lie. You get to like Frankie that much more, in spite of how bad things are he would still help out a friend in need. The outside world however is not that charitable to him, as we'll continue to find out... Back on the home front, Cathy is spending her day scrounging for food, slaving over a sink to wash clothes, and look after the baby. She turns on the TV and it doesn't work properly, it's image is distorted. Heaped on everything else she is not even allowed the comfort and escapism television can often provide. Meanwhile, Frankie is waiting in the unemployment line, stuck with the jeering rubes who populate it, and the gawking eyes of those who are better off who happen to be passing by. With no job prospects, and welfare a dim hope, Frankie is forced to walk the streets once more and figure out what he's going to do. As he walks through the slums seeing all manners of degradation his mind wanders back to Vietnam. He is beginning to remember a slaughter of villagers and being tortured, but can't remember why these things came to be. Eddie, in the meantime has successfully robbed a woman and is trying to barter the possessions he lifted off her to Paco -- when this isn't enough to score the amount of drugs he wants he even offers his pistol, Paco wants nothing to do with the obviously hot weapon. Eddie eventually settles for a lesser amount, unaware that Paco -- finding Eddie's profitability at an end and his ability to be tolerable non-existent -- has given his men the nod to hand the junkie a poisoned dose sure to kill him instead of get him high. Unaware of this treachery, he goes to an underpass that is popular for shooting up to find a discarded needle. Not finding one, Eddie instead decides to apply the powder directly to his blood stream, as Paco anticipated Eddie dies of a drug overdose. Ironically, his body is found by the very woman who robbed him and she takes from him his only possessions: His gun and a box of extra bullets. As this is happening Frankie is remembering more and more about his experiences in 'Nam, being tortured by the Viet Cong and his time in a military infirmary. He also witnesses some of the atrocities that happen in New York City. Picture this: Frankie gets between two little girls who are having a petty argument. He pulls one of them aside, a girl could be no older than 10 years old and he has a conversation with her. He cheers her up, they have a few jokes and then he is grabbed -- not by a concerned parent who thinks he is a child predator, but a pimp who's think he's trying to get free service. Frankie is horrified and disgusted this little girl is forced into prostitution, when he asks the pimp how he feels about it Frankie gets a beating and a threat or seven for his trouble. Finally, with the day growing long Frankie has nothing to show for his days travels and realizes he has no other options, swallows his pride, and calls his father. Buddy G. shows us the home that Frankie's father lives in: a gated mansion. We are given a glimmer of hope, this could be salvation for Frankie and his family, all problems solved. What a promising little carrot being dangled in front of us, isn't it, Dear Reader? However, Buddy G. dashes this small hope: Frankie's father has lost it all: He's lost his fortune, he's lost his health and until recently thought he lost his son. He tearfully tells his son he has lost everything and is a dying man. Frankie pleads to his father for help, any kind at all, because he has no job, he has a wife and a kid, with a second one on it's way. That's right, there is a lot more on Frankie's plate than originally introduced. Waiting until now to drop this bombshell on the viewer will make your heart sink even deeper for Frankie's plight. His father however is overwhelmed, with old wounds ripped open once again, through an emotion choked voice tells his son there is nothing he can do, and hangs up. Salvation lost. With no other choice, Frankie gives in to his desperation; the continued survival of his family would depend on it. Like a modern day Ricci, Frankie decides to steal. Fate adds a cruel twist and he grabs the purse of the very woman who robbed Eddie's corpse and bolts for it. This isn't a clean getaway either, far from, because he is spotted by Paco and his gang who chase after him -- unlikely for any chivalrous reasons. Frankie gives them a good chase but they manage to catch up and give him a beating, and wrest the purse from his hand, however they are completely unaware of the fully loaded pistol that drops from it's contents in the scuffle..... After an explosive retribution as the film draws to its climax, the story twists down even further down it's darkening path to an unkind end. Decisions are made, there is one dark revelation which leads to one bleak and horrifying resolution, the likes of which are shocking but I will not spoil them here. It is a powerful ending, and it punctuates the hopelessness of these characters' lives. A tragic ending for tragic people. Buddy G. offers no quarter, and no remorse. This ending is far from happy, but it's the perfect ending. This is not Hollywood. There are no wild parties with free flowing drinks and Hawaiian shirts, no lottery wins, no hope, no future, deux ex machina went on vacation and in filling its absence is futility. As I stated at the beginning, this film is more than worth of the distinction of a masterpiece, and of all the films I have seen in recent history it is the most powerful, raw and emotional film I can recall. I strongly recommend this tragedy to anyone who can appreciate that not all stories have a happy ending, and in the end even the biggest losers still have more to lose.
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Buddy Giovinazzo's Combat Shock (AKA American Nightmares)