The Day Gramps Get Shocked: Isn't It Shocking? (1973)

Isn’t it Shocking (1976)
Rating: ***
Starring: Alan Alda, Edmond O'Brien, Louise Lasser

No teenagers? No masked killer? No blood? No problem!

Isn’t it Shocking? (1973) may not look like a solid slasher but it does feature a relatively simple bodycount and an unusual direction where the killer is made known to the audience but not to the film’s characters.

It tells the story of a small New England town where a series of murders puts one sheriff Daniel Barnes into a strange predicament as all of the victims were elderly and seems to be burnt with some sort of medical tool. The culprit is one equally aged traveler who recently stopped by and lodged at a local motel. As more of the townsfolks fall victim to the killer, Barnes has to step up his game and find a way to get ahead of the madman, stopping him before more innocent lives are taken.

Fairly inoffensive, Isn’t it Shocking? (1973) relies more on plot development in terms of thrills and features a rather realistic look on police procedural. More often than not, the TV thriller feels a bit soap-operatic as we often shifts back and forth between the sheriff looking into the murders and him dealing with his everyday life, death of friends and even some complicated love interests; this said, I can honestly say it will not appeal much for those who are looking for a faster-paced bodycounter, but those who are fans of TV mysteries who can wait around until the last act won’t be disappointed.

What I came to like about this televised treat is that the characters have a little simplistic and quirky charm to them, and you can tell they’re simply there to live a rather normal life despite the recent death spree. The small town gives a relatively pleasant homey feel and, when the scene calls for it, rather nice backdrops for car chases. It’s a nice change of scenery for a protoslasher thriller and one that I can always welcome in place of our usual dead teenager flicks.

Ending with a fairly positive note, Isn’t it Shocking? (1973) may be your grandparent’s murder thriller but it is well worth a look.

Bodycount:
1 elderly female electrocuted with electro-shock apparatus
1 elderly male found dead
1 elderly male found dead
1 elderly female found murdered
1 elderly male found murdered
Total: 5