Impulse

Impulse is neither as bad nor as cheesy as other reviewers believe it to be. It's true that William Shatner wears some of the ugliest clothing of all time, but it's also true that his acting is--wait for it--actually pretty good, and not particularly over-the-top. The development of his character's psychosis is well presented in the black and white pre-credits sequence (which features H.G. Lewis regular William Kerwin), and nicely (if obviously) echoed during the film's conclusion. Shatner manages to convey his own fear and disgust with himself even while he continues to kill. The rest of the cast--including Ruth Roman--don't embarrass themselves either.

What faults the film does have are primarily the responsibility of low budget Florida director William Grefe, who consistently fails to display much talent or imagination with poorly established scenes and unimaginative set ups. Lewis Perle's score is naggingly aggressive and lets the film down at every turn. Overall, Impulse is an enjoyable low budget thriller that would be better regarded if people didn't like to obsess about the acting proclivities of a certain Captain James T. Kirk--an actor who has proven, in films ranging from 1961's The Intruder to 1999's Free Enterprise, that he actually can act.

Shatner must be ruing the day he agreed to make this hideous piece of junk. Bad movie aficionados are going to want to get hold of this work of trash. This movie must be seen to be believed. I don't know if I've ever laughed so hard at a movie that takes itself seriously. Shatner over acts like he has never over acted before - he grimaces, he scowls, he looks horrified, he smarmily hits on women.

In almost every scene he wears a different shirt - all of which are made of hideous, ugly, multi-colored, seventies polyester. This has got to be the ugliest collection of shirts ever known to man. In one scene he wears a white suit and matching hat, which make him look like a pimp.

The soundtrack is full of the stereotypical wacka-chicka funk sounds of the seventies. In fact, the whole movie is full of stereotypical seventies hairstyles, clothes, and shoes.

This is a very odd movie, and I highly recommend it to anyone who really wants a good laugh. It is truly unbelievable. There is no way to accurately describe how unintentionally, horribly funny this movie is. If you can find a copy, you'll be glad you did.

I came across a VHS copy of this movie by mistake several years ago, at has become one of my most treasured possessions! As far as I'm concerned, everyone should own a copy of this great film!!! Starring William Shatner as the killer and Ruth Roman of THE BABY(1974, another classic B movie!) as the rich widow this movie has everything going for it. The clothes, the slow-speed car chase through the car wash, the editing, the opening graphics, the still shots of Shatner, the acting from Shatner is so "intense", tears of laughter still stream down my cheeks each time I watch it! (I've seen it at least 50 times, and will watch it at least 100 more times, if I can help it!) I only wish it would be released on DVD!

William Shatner is most famous for his television work (and his ill-advised singing career), but he has actually done his best work in movies. In his pre-"Star Trek" days he starred as a klansman/provocateur in "Intruder", one of Roger Corman's most interesting films (and the only one to lose money). He was also in "Incubus", the first (and last) film done entirely in the "international" language of Esperanto. In "The Devil's Rain" he faced off against a cult of obsessed weirdos (and, no, it wasn't set at a Star Trek convention). Then there is this film, perhaps, his masterpiece where he plays a psycho in a polyester leisure suit who marries vulnerable women and knocks them off--kind of a 70's version of "The Stepfather".

Naturally, the only person who suspects him is the young daughter of his latest would-be victim, thus the misleading alternate title "Do You Want a Ride, Little Girl?" "Impulse" is not a great title either since it's one shared by about ten other movies. If this movie had a decent title, it probably would have been more successful and it would probably be released on DVD today, because it is really a hoot. Is it a great movie? No, but neither is "Star Trek" and at least no one takes it seriously. You don't see thousands of people dressing up in leisure suits and gold chains and attending conventions devoted to it. Nor has anyone made "Impulse--the Next Generation" or half a dozen other sequels and spin-offs. The movie also perfectly fits Shatner's overly dramatic acting style. It really is the part he was born to play. I wouldn't recommend it to your more serious "Star Trek" fans who don't really grasp the sublime campiness of Shatner, but for everybody else...

I attended my one and only Star Trek convention in Chicago, in 1974. The whole cast was there except William Shatner. Could it have been that he had to fly down to Florida to make Impulse? Might I have done something, even at age 13, to stop him?

This is as funny and terrible as everyone says and more so.

Shatner is often unfairly teased; but in this case, he brought it on himself. Seeming to view the character as infantile, Shatner lumbers through a series of reactions as garish as his wardrobe. Could he have needed the money? Was Bill Grefe just too much fun to hang out with? Grefe claims he talked Shatner into making the film upon a chance Airport meeting.

Surprisingly the rest of the cast is pretty good(!). Ruth Roman acts like She is holding court at an upscale dinner theater. Jennifer Bishop maintains her dignity despite being victimized by Grefe's signature shot; a close up of the rump. Yet it is Kim Nichols as the explosive Tina who walks off with the film.

You cannot die having not seen "Impulse."