Okay, Okay, I'll Say It: 'Shocker' is Underrated

Alright, before you all come at me with pitchforks, hear me out. I watched 'Shocker' (1989) the other night, and yeah, it's cheesy as hell. The acting's... questionable, especially Mitch Pileggi chowing down on scenery like it's the last buffet on Earth. But here's the thing: it's entertainingly cheesy. And I think that's where most people miss the point. Everyone rags on the plot holes (and there are PLENTY), the ridiculous special effects, and that whole 'evil TV signal' thing. Fine. But nobody seems to appreciate the sheer audacity of Wes Craven going so completely off the rails. The scene where Pinker's hopping through TV channels, morphing into different characters... it's bizarrely creative! It's like Craven was dared to make the dumbest/most awesome horror movie possible... And look, I get it. It's no 'Nightmare on Elm Street.' But to write it off as just another forgettable 80s slasher is a disservice. It's a batshit crazy ride that tries something different (and mostly fails, I'll admit), but at least it tries. Tell me what other movie feature's the main villain turning into a god damn tv set?! That's something right there. Plus, Pileggi is clearly having the time of his life. Sometimes, that sheer level of commitment to the absurdity is enough for me. I'm not saying it's a good movie, necessarily, but it's definitely a memorable one. And in a sea of generic horror flicks, 'Shocker' stands out, even if it's for all the wrong reasons. Give it another shot, maybe with a few beers, and tell me I'm wrong. I dare you.