Shock

Shock

Year: 1977

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: Italian

Director: Mario Bava

HorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsIntense violence and sexual transgressionTerrifying haunted and supernatural horrorGothic and eerie haunting horror

A new look at the face of evil. A couple is terrorized in their new house haunted by the vengeful ghost of the woman’s former husband who possesses her young son.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Shock (1977)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Shock (1977). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1970s

The events unfold in a contemporary 1970s Italian setting, with everyday life interrupted by unexplainable phenomena. The era's references to psychiatric treatment, drug use, and airline travel frame the horror in a modern context. Memory and trauma are treated as tangible forces that complicate the family’s attempt to maintain normalcy.

Location

Dora Baldini's house, Italy

Set in a secluded Italian home, the story centers around a family house that becomes the hub of terror. The basement hides a corpse and a troubling past, turning ordinary rooms into stages for eerie activity. The house itself feels like a character, mirroring Dora's mounting trauma and the danger that menaces her and Marco.

🏠 Haunted house 🕯️ Supernatural 🧠 Psychological

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:46

Main Characters – Shock (1977)

Meet the key characters of Shock (1977), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Dora Baldini (Daria Nicolodi)

A troubled wife and mother haunted by her trauma of an abusive marriage and a forced hospitalization. She grapples with Marco's disturbing behavior and a growing conviction that Carlo's spirit has returned. Her search for truth drives her to confront the house's deadly past, even as it jeopardizes her own safety.

🧠 Psychological 👩‍👧 Motherly 👻 Haunting

Bruno Baldini (Lamberto Bava)

Dora's new husband and a commercial airline pilot who resists Dora's fears and insists on keeping the family together. He becomes entangled in Carlo's concealment, helping to hide the corpse to avoid legal trouble. His pragmatism and secrecy contribute to the house's mounting violence and tragedy.

🏠 Domestic 🔑 Secrets ⚔️ Violence

Marco Baldini (David Colin Jr.)

Dora and Bruno's seven-year-old son who is drawn to the basement and exhibits unsettling behaviors that echo Carlo's presence. The boy's actions serve as a focal point for the haunting and Dora's concern for his safety. His vulnerability highlights how trauma is transmitted within a family.

👶 Child 👻 Possession 🌀 Influence

Carlo Baldini (Nicola Salerno)

Dora's abusive former husband, rumored to have killed himself but later revealed to be the haunting force behind the family's terror. His corpse is concealed within the walls, and his presence continues to menace Dora and Marco. He embodies the film's central trauma and violence.

👻 Ghost 🗝️ Secrets 💀 Death

Dr. Aldo Spidini (Ivan Rassimov)

Dora's psychologist friend who offers rational, clinical explanations for her fears. He serves as a counterpoint to the supernatural threat, attempting to steer Dora toward an interpretation rooted in memory and psychology.

🧠 Psychiatric 🗣️ Guidance 🕯️ Science

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:46

Major Themes – Shock (1977)

Explore the central themes of Shock (1977), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👻 Haunting

The house becomes a vessel for Carlo's memory and Dora's fears, with ghostly manifestations intruding on the living. Supernatural events blur the line between reality and nightmare, suggesting that past violence refuses to stay buried. The horror grows from unresolved guilt and the way memory can animate a physical space.

🧠 Trauma

Dora's remembered abuse and electroshock therapy resurface as Marco's behavior unsettles the home. The narrative links personal trauma to a perceived possession, challenging the boundary between mental distress and supernatural influence. Therapy and skepticism clash with Dora's certainty, fueling the film's psychological dread.

🏠 Secrets

The dwelling conceals dark truths, including Carlo's murder and the couple's attempt to hide it behind the walls. The marriage itself becomes endangered by the past, forcing drastic actions in the name of protection. The house's shifting physical space mirrors the moral rot within the family.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:46

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Unlock the Full Story of Shock

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Shock Summary

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Shock Summary

Shock Timeline

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Shock Timeline

More About Shock

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More About Shock

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