Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Get the full riff: rifftrax.com/impulse
"I've forgotten why I was in it. I probably needed the money. It was a very bad time for me. I hope they burn it." - William Shatner on Impulse
Luckily for us, they didn’t burn it, and now we can riff it! One of the most infamous entries in Shatner’s packed-with-infamy career, Impulse has the good Captain play a serial killing conman who seduces women in the most repulsive 1970s style. And we do mean “repulsive 1970s style.” Tank tops and bellbottoms, patterned shirt collars wider than the Pacific Ocean, Shatner wears it all. And somehow, against all odds, every woman he meets falls for it. Including a single mom whose young daughter is the only one in the movie who can see this guy is bad, like obviously bad, like so bad he leaves stains on the ugly brown 1970s sofa bad.
It’s a little upsetting watching him sleep his way through belly dancers, hotel clerks, and cigarette-y older ladies, but it’s all worth it when we meet the real star of the show: Karate Pete. Played by Harold Sakata, aka Oddjob from the world of James Bond, Karate Pete is always smoking a pipe, drives an RV with a banner that says “Karate Pete”, and never ever does any karate. He’s a true delight - and he was apparently almost killed during a stunt with Shatner! We won’t spoil what happens in that incredible scene, but suffice to say there’s an alternate timeline where William Shatner killed Oddjob during the making of the movie Impulse. Just something to think about.
Boldly go with Mike, Kevin and Bill to the pits of 70s sleaze with the sleaziest version of Shatner who ever sleazed, it’s time for Impulse!
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Get the full riff: rifftrax.com/impulse
"I've forgotten why I was in it. I probably needed the money. It was a very bad time for me. I hope they burn it." - William Shatner on Impulse
Luckily for us, they didn’t burn it, and now we can riff it! One of the most infamous entries in Shatner’s packed-with-infamy career, Impulse has the good Captain play a serial killing conman who seduces women in the most repulsive 1970s style. And we do mean “repulsive 1970s style.” Tank tops and bellbottoms, patterned shirt collars wider than the Pacific Ocean, Shatner wears it all. And somehow, against all odds, every woman he meets falls for it. Including a single mom whose young daughter is the only one in the movie who can see this guy is bad, like obviously bad, like so bad he leaves stains on the ugly brown 1970s sofa bad.
It’s a little upsetting watching him sleep his way through belly dancers, hotel clerks, and cigarette-y older ladies, but it’s all worth it when we meet the real star of the show: Karate Pete. Played by Harold Sakata, aka Oddjob from the world of James Bond, Karate Pete is always smoking a pipe, drives an RV with a banner that says “Karate Pete”, and never ever does any karate. He’s a true delight - and he was apparently almost killed during a stunt with Shatner! We won’t spoil what happens in that incredible scene, but suffice to say there’s an alternate timeline where William Shatner killed Oddjob during the making of the movie Impulse. Just something to think about.
Boldly go with Mike, Kevin and Bill to the pits of 70s sleaze with the sleaziest version of Shatner who ever sleazed, it’s time for Impulse!
Subscribe for more: rifftrax.com/YouTube
Watch full movies from RiffTrax: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4w3x0hXQwFh826DIW8mFrDYTdzF0XvOp
Watch movies explained by RiffTrax: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4w3x0hXQwFj2NmZ2IhDZJwoEsU2HoCTP
See behind the scenes on Patreon: rifftrax.com/patreon
Stream 100s of riffs for a few bucks a month: rifftrax.com/friends
Try the new Roku App: rifftrax.com/roku
See RiffTrax Live in theaters: rifftrax.com/live
Follow @RiffTrax
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/rifftrax.com
Facebook: rifftrax.com/facebook
Instagram: rifftrax.com/instagram
#RiffTrax
