Shock Treatment
Shock Treatment

Movie spotlight

Shock Treatment

1981
Movie
94 min
English

Brad and Janet Majors find their strained marriage put to the test on popular Denton TV show Marriage Maze. Poor Brad is heavily sedated and institutionalised, whilst Janet is given a radical makeover and primed for stardom. But what are the real motivations behind the kooky DTV crew and their enigmatic head-honcho, Farley Flavors?

Insights

IMDb5.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes40%
Director: Jim SharmanGenres: Comedy, Musical, Sci-Fi

Plot Summary

In the dystopian town of Denton, the "Denton Direct" reality show dictates all aspects of life, from careers to relationships. Brad Shapiro, after a public breakup with his fiancée Janet, finds himself unwillingly committed to a psychiatric hospital within the Denton media empire. There, he becomes the reluctant star of a new televised medical experiment, facing manipulation and mind control orchestrated by the sinister network executive, Oscar Broadhurst.

Critical Reception

Shock Treatment, the spiritual successor to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, received a mixed critical reception upon its release. While some praised its satirical take on media and consumerism and its musical numbers, many found it less engaging and more convoluted than its predecessor. Audience reception was also divided, with some fans embracing its eccentricities while others found it a disappointment.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its satirical commentary on media and consumerism.

  • Criticized for its convoluted plot and lack of the infectious energy of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

  • The musical numbers and performances were often highlighted as a mixed bag.

Google audience: Google user reviews are not widely available or aggregated for this title.

Fun Fact

Shock Treatment was originally conceived as a sequel to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, but due to rights issues and creative differences, it evolved into a standalone film with thematic and stylistic connections rather than a direct continuation.

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