Shocking Dark has never been released in America. And for (maybe) a good reason.
Distributed this year on Blu-Ray by Severin Films, Shocking Dark (released under the names Terminator II, Terminator 2, Aliennators and Contaminator) is … interesting, to say the least.
Besides its release title (and Severin’s limited edition slipcover), there is little to do with the Arnold franchise. Shocking Dark is what happens when writers are asked to make a movie based off James Cameron’s Terminator and Aliens, which quickly devolves into a complete rip-off of Aliens.
Directed by Bruno Mattei (who also made Robowar, Zombi 3, and Rats: Night of Terror), Shocking Dark is not the shining bastion of high quality filmmarking.
The film starts off in a near-future Venice, where pollution has spiraled out of control and the sea levels are rising. Currently, the city is shut down and guarded by armed soldiers (which is shown by lingering over the same shots multiple times for almost unbearable lengths of time). After this, however, it turns into a poorly shot Aliens, replacing the Xenomorphs with mutant creatures that were created by the Tubular Corporation’s pollution.
Do not, I repeat, do not go into this movie expecting anything groundbreaking or remotely good. But do watch it for the absolutely bonkers nature of the movie. The direct scenes, shots, dialogue from Aliens are so blatant you can’t help but laugh and have a fun time with this campy movie, with the Newt replacement played by a too-tall, too-old “child”. The dialogue delivery is strange, to say the least, as if all the actors were told to say things without emotion but be completely over the top.
If you do get the Blu-Ray by Severin Films, it has very nice 2K transfer of the film and some bonus features, including some current interviews with Director / Screenwriter Claudio Fragasso and Screenwriter Rossella Drudi, as well as an interview with actress Geretta Geretta (Demons, 2020 Texas Gladiators).
If you are fan of schlock horror, you really have no reason but to pick this up and then make all your friends watch this with you. Unfortunately, the version that came with the Terminator 2 slipcover is now sold out but you can still get the blu-ray through Severin (including a signed poster).
Buy it. Trust me.
