Impulse

William Shatner, for all his ego and arrogance, always seemed comfortable being the butt of a joke.  His career outside of the Star Trek franchise was a bumpy road of corny TV shows and enjoyable B-movie dreck.  But he never delivered anything less than 100% “Shatner!”  Like 1974’s Impulse, a regional drive-in quickie directed by William Grefé (Stanley, Mako: Jaws of Death) that casts the once and future Captain Kirk as a psychologically troubled con man whose childhood trauma leads to a string of murdered women. 

After dumping the body of his last victim in a Florida canal, Matt Stone (Shatner) is on the prowl for another financial windfall, this time using a phony investment scam to entice Ann (Jennifer Bishop) into a romantic relationship.  But when Ann’s daughter, Tina, is witness to the murder of his business associate (Harold “Chop Top” Sakata), Matt has to clean up his tracks and speed up his escape plan.  That includes silencing Tina…and whoever else gets in his way.

 

Taking his usual low-key horror approach, Grefé knows his biggest asset here is Shatner.  And he makes sure the audience gets their money’s worth, parading the actor around in bright polyester leisure suits and ridiculous hats that almost certainly came with a free bowl of soup.  As the emotionally unbalanced – yet physically irresistible - Matt Stone, Shatner sinks his teeth into every scene…and a couple fingers or two!  It’s an unapologetic performance that takes advantage of the actor’s blissful unselfconsciousness.  Shatner is so impressed with himself that no role is too small; he stretches them all into a perfect fit.

 

The plot itself circles back to 1949’s noir-thriller The Window which co-starred Ruth Roman as a killer scheming to murder the 10-year-old neighbor who witnessed her crime.  And, in a pleasant twist, Roman pops up here as a wealthy neighbor who refuses to believe Tina’s story until it’s too late.  Impulse feels cheap and dirty in just the right way.  Even the new 4K restoration doesn’t quite scrub the grime out of its twisted narrative.  But it’s a treat to finally get this one out there so everyone can see Shatner shine!

 

Grindhouse Releasing has put together a lovingly restored Blu-ray created from rare archival film elements. Beyond the main feature, extras include a 15-minute Making Of, Shatner Q & A, crew interviews, director’s commentary, alternate soundtrack, behind-the-scenes odd and ends and an entire second disc devoted to Grefé’s business tactics (industrials, shorts and investment films) that exposes the less glamorous – and more financial – side of the industry.  Fascinating stuff!