Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Allison Davies The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Tymon Sutton The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

Bumpy Chip It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

pausher I recently attended "Shatfest" hosted by Oakland, CA's Parkway Theater (http://www.picturepubpizza.com/), an annual tribute to William Shatner. It was a freeking riot. The Parkway is set up like a lounge with couches and tables instead of the usual theater setup. They have a kitchen with a full menu, and serve beer and wine. Anyway, while we were waiting for our food to be served, they showed a black-and-white episode of "The Man from UNCLE" that featured both Shatner and Leonard Nimoy a year before they did "Star Trek". Next, they silently ran a segment of a Star Trek episode while belly dancers danced on the stage in front of the screen. The segment they chose featured an "alien" gal dancing in front to Kirk and Mr. Spock, and it blended perfectly with the live show. Surreal!!! Next they had a Shatner trivia quiz awarding prizes that included a picture of Captain Kirk signed by Shatner. This was followed by a video of Shatner performing Elton John's "Rocket Man", a level of "rank" seldom achieved by mere mortals. But the piece-de-resistance was the screening of "Impulse". Now I pride myself as being an aficionado of horrible, rank films, so I can confidently report that this is the BEST horrible, terrible, rank movie I've ever experienced. "Robot Monsters", "CC and Company", "Nymphoid Barbarian in Dinosaur Hell" are A-Card movies compared to this one. The Shatner ham has never glistened and dripped like this before or since. Adding to the fun is Harold Sakata ("Odd Job" from "Goldfinger") playing an itinerant karate instructor looking for a big score. The entire audience was in continuous hysterics for an hour and a half. Actually, that's not true. A gal at my table who'd immigrated from China five years ago took the movie literally, and was totally bewildered by the reaction of the audience. I tried to explain it to her, but.......how can you explain nonsense like this? Which of course added to the fun. Anyway, a memorable movie!!

funkyfry I have to give this movie a "1" just because it is such a horrible movie in reality, but those who enjoy "so bad it's good" films will find a relatively obscure gem in this one.I'm seeing that a lot of the people who commented on it here on IMDb are from the Bay Area CA and thinking that a lot of them probably saw it with me, since I've seen it all 3 times that it's been shown at the Parkway's "Annual William Shatner Tribute Night". I saw it last night for that 3rd time and I have to say this film just gets funnier the more you see it, like all great bad films.Shatner does his "bluebeard" style character to the hilt, complete with nervous tic (chews on his pinkie like "Dr. Evil"). He is certainly the highlight of the film with his huge collars and his hideous striped bathing costume. There are many memorable scenes here where he "flips out" like when he is hanging out with his girlfriend and her daughter at the beach and a guy with balloons gets in his way, and he starts yelling and popping the balloons. All the scenes where he gets violent are really funny because of the facial and body mannerisms he goes through. He's actually pretty good as a psycho in the more sedate scenes, when the only hint of evil there is a kind of sly smile, but when he goes "off the edge" he really goes over the top.The rest of the cast is decent, Kim Nicholas (also known from her role in "Black Sunday") is the standout with a very spirited child performance that makes you think she would have been good in a revival of "The Bad Seed". The always enjoyable Harold Sakata (famous as "the guy who throws his hat" in the James Bond film "Goldfinger") has a role and makes a lot with it.... he's the only one other than the little girl who knows that Shatner is psychotic, and he and Shatner have one of the film's most memorable scenes in their battle in a car wash.All in all, if you are a fan of B movies, MST-3K, Ed Wood, just campy acting and camp films in general, this is a film you definitely should see. This is one of the films you will wade through dozens or hundreds of truly bad films just to see.... a great bad movie.

librachild "Impulse" is a must see for any fan of B moviedom! During a low point in his career, Shatner gives a stellar performance as Matt a psychotic killer. He begins his killing ways as a child when he sees his mother, in their home, being raped by a soldier (played by William Kerwin) and plunges a Samurai sword into him. The film then flashes forward to 1974 Florida where he kills his current lover, then comes into a small town and wins the heart of a widow, but not her disapproving young daughter. The daughter is wise to his motives after she witnesses Shatner kill Harold Sakata in a car wash, but no one will believe her until the bloody climax of the film. Think Shatner's acting was tacky in his Star Trek hey day? He goes over the top in this cheapy thriller. And yes, dig his groovy duds! Everything from polyester zig zag print shirts to striped tank top and white pimp suit complete with hat! Cheesy scenes, dialogue and plot make this drive in delight a movie to seek out. Hard to find, it is slowly making it's way to DVD. This would have made an excellent MST3K episode! Fun for all!

jcge86 I'll never forget the first time I saw Impulse....I had picked it up at the local video store and rented it sight-unseen. After all, with William Shatner starring in a 1974 "b" horror film, how could I go wrong?From the opening graphics of the movie title ripping apart to reveal a close up of Shatner's face, the expression alone on his face was priceless...but joyfully, that is just the beginning of this masterpiece!!!The film is a gem, with Shatner giving 110% throughout, and also Ruth Roman ("Mama" in The Baby, 1974). The clothes, the acting, the slow-paced car chase through an automatic car wash....this movie is worth seeing over and over again!!!