Vincent Price is the chill in the air

 SHOCK (1946)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

Vincent Price had the shock and awe of a feared presence whom we ought to be wary of. He was not a frightening monster to look at - he was handsome and had a rugged, delicate charm - yet it was that meticulously mellifluous voice that could either imply a cordial tone or something malevolent. Either way, Price unmistakably could bring a chill to the air in thrillers and horror. "Shock" is as mediocre and banal as any thriller yet Price does his best to elevate the "shock" value.

Janet (Anabel Shaw) is the wife of an army lieutenant husband who is awaiting his arrival at a San Francisco hotel. While staying overnight at the hotel, she witnesses a man clubbing his wife with a silver candlestick. She is horrified and is practically in a coma-like status. Her husband arrives and is "shocked" by her appearance. A certain doctor (Vincent Price) is consulted who has a room at the hotel and, surprise, he is the killer! Later on we get scenes at his sanitorium where he administers insulin shots to Janet with an evil plan to have her committed! 

Nothing in "Shock" is startling or inventive and it is mostly boring. Elaine Jordan (Lynn Bari) is the doctor's nurse and they are having an affair and there is that tingle of noirish feeling. Elaine wants the doctor to relax and is angered when he begins to develop a conscience. Even for an hour-long film, the film is deadening to a crawl and nothing here will keep you awake. Vincent Price is game for anything and is the best thing about this forgettable tripe.