Blu-ray review: William Shatner Shines in the Unsettling 'Impulse'

Title: Impulse (Grindhouse Releasing)

Genre: Horror

Cast: William Shatner, Jenifer Bishop, Ruth Roman, Harold "Oddjob" Sakata, William Kerwin

Director: William Grefé

Website: https://mvdentertainment.com/

Tell me more: Fans of classic horror films as well as celebrated actor-icon William Shatner will want to grab a copy of the essential new reissue of the 1974 thriller "Impulse" available as a marvelous new 4K restoration created from rare arrival 35mm film elements that shine across the deluxe two-disc Blu-ray title.

The restored film looks and sounds wonderful.

William Shatner delivers a strong performance in 
the newly-restored 1974 horror classic "Impulse."

Shatner stars as Matt Stone, a fearful leisure suit-wearing conman who seduces lonely women and bilks them out of their savings before killing them. If the scenario sounds dark, it is. The good news is that an especially strong cast as well as the riveting work of director William Grefé draws in the viewer and propels the 87-minute film toward toward a shocking and strong finale. 

This writer can't recall ever catching Shatner in a role as monstrous as this one and the actor fully delivers on the lead character's contemptible instincts in every scene of a demanding role. The supporting cast includes Jenifer Bishop (Al Adamson's "The Female Bunch"), Ruth Roman (Alfred Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train"), Harold "Oddjob" Sakata ("Goldfinger), and William Kerwin (Herschel Gordon Lewis' "Blood Feast"). 

Special bonus features include:

• In-depth interviews with director William Grefé
• "Kingdom of the Shatner: William Shatner Live in Santa Monica - Oct. 9, 2022"
• Additional interviews with producer and make-up artist Doug Hobart and art director Roger Carlton Sherman
• Audio commentary by William Grefé
• Two bonus features; "The Devil's Sisters" and "The Godmothers"
• A glossy illustrated booklet with liner notes by underground filmmaker Jacques Boyreau
• Still galleries, trailers
• Haunting alternate French soundtrack
• Hours of rare cinematic treasures from the vaults of William Grefé
• Beautiful embossed slipcover with new art by painter Dave Lebow

Robert Kinsler