Shock Treatment
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Movie Reviews of Shock Treatment
Movie Review: Shock Treatment finally released on DVD in the USA
Summary: 5 Stars
Overseas may have gotten it first, but another website states that the USA version features 1) Trailers 2) 5.1 audio 3) Making Of 4) Music Retrospective 5) Widescreen and my favorite of all: 6) Commentary Yay! This makes me haaaapppppyyyy!!!!Movie Review: Shockingly fun!
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is fun from the start to the finish. Way ahead of it's time. RealWorld, RoadRules, BigBrother, Survivor, all the reality shows owe their thanks to this film.Movie Review: Worth Buying if You Want It, But There Are Audio Problems
Summary: 4 Stars
I've felt affection for this movie since I first saw it on video in 1984. It's funny, and contains a clever, catchy score. Cosmo and Nation McKinley are a worthy follow up brother and sister team for Richard O'Brien and Patricia Quinn. Little Nell (who goes by the name Nell Campbell with this flick) is hilarious as Nurse Ansalong. Jessica Harper, new to the Rocky Horror phenomenon but already the Queen of the Out-of-the-Mainstream Movie by that point in her career, is wonderful as always. The new characters created for this movie are fun and generally likable, and the script has the sort of lines O'Brien is so good at writing. Brian Thomson's sets and Sue Blane's costumes are imaginative and create a great atmosphere, different from Rocky Horror--antiseptic where Rocky was grungy (in the old sense of that word), bright and shiny and somewhat elaborate where Rocky was more darkly lit, dilapidated and treadbare (wonderfully so)--but just as appealing and enjoyable. Recently, people have started to notice how prescient this movie was in predicting the age of reality television, so that might be an incentive for people who don't know it to check it out. But basically, most Rocky Horror fans already know whether they like this movie or not, and those that do will likely buy the DVD in all events.
The good news is: the picture quality is vastly superior on the DVD, and that odd sort of "fast forward" glitch that occurs for a few seconds during "You're Looking at an Ace" on the video release(s) has been fixed. For that reason alone I'd recommend this DVD. There are extra features, including two documentaries. It's great to see Jim Sharman, Richard Hartley, and Sue Blane. There are two almost identical commercials. They start and finish with an animated version of Cosmo, but otherwise are a sort of music video for the title song. I remember the television commercials that aired when the move was released back in 1981, and they included dialogue. I particularly remember Cosmo standing behind the mirror which reflects Janet as he intoned, "The most desirable creature...that ever walked." I wish, for my own nostalgic purposes, that version had been included, but no big deal. Over all, thought has been put into this, and the transitions to various menus are a clever use of images from the film.
Unfortunately, there are audio problems. For some reason the audio drops very low during the last chorus of "Denton USA," though the audience claps continue at the same level the rest of the sound had previously played at. Maybe this is a surround sound effect I don't get because I've only got two speakers, but surely there was a way to make the audio compatable with less advanced systems? The audio rises to its previous level for the rest of the movie, so it isn't too bad. But that is the first song, and one of the best, so it puts a damper on the rest of the movie. I've read reviews for the British DVD release which state this movie was also originally in mono, and that fake stereo has been used for the DVD. I don't believe this is accurate, but I'm not sure. The video release was in stereo. I saw the movie at a revival house, in 1984 I think (rather appropriate considering Big Brother is definately watching in this flick), and it sounded like stereo. But then, I was 15 and it was quite some time ago, so maybe memory deceives me. Plus, I can't quite believe Lou Adler would make the same mistake twice. If the movie does turn out to have been originally in mono and an alternative track has been left out, I'll be disappointed.
Also, for some reason, the music over the closing credits has been altered. The movie in theaters and on video had the Overture played again over the credits, and afterwards there was an early demo of Richard O'Brien and Richard Hartley doing the title song with synthesizer accompaniment (for exit music in first release; on video played at first in front of the FBI warning, then against the black screen). For the DVD, the first half of the Overture is chopped off, the demo starts while the cast credits are still running and, because it isn't over when the credits finish, it just fades out instantly. Since this is the one track not on the soundtrack, that's a disappointment. Plus, is it really so bad just to let the audio play over a black screen, or a chosen still, the way other movies that originally contained exit music have been released on DVD? Did anyone complain about this with the video?
Of course, there are audio problems with the Rocky Horror home releases, as well. The Rocky Horror Picture Show was first released in mono and the original tracks are long since lost, so there could never be a genuine stereo reissue. For the video tape, the stereo tracks of the the soundtrack album were substituted with sound effects layed over them, and it sounded terrible: very tinny music quality, with vocals sometimes coming from the speaker on the opposite side of the screen than the characters singing, and at some points, poor lip synching because lines were rendered differently on the soundtrack than in the actual film (sadly, the prints now in circlation at midnight showings use this lame stereo version). The DVD attempt at stereo isn't much better in terms of sound quality, though at least the mono tracks were subsituted in instances where lines were read differently, and better technology allows for the ability to reintroduce sound effects (echos when Brad and Janet enter the church during "Dammit Janet," for instance, or during songs set in the lab) that were always part of the mono and help create verisimilitude. Fortunately, the DVD offered original mono track as an alternative, and is vastly preferable (if you haven't listened to it, please do; the audio on the stereo version sounds pasted over the images, and as I said, it's rather tinny sounding, too, while the song vocals and music tracks and sound effects are nicely blended on the mono, and have a better bass quality; one of Janet's sighs in "Dammit Janet" was ommitted from the DVD stereo tracks, by the way).
It's a shame that both movies suffer from audio problems, especially in that they are musicals. It took ten years for Rocky to get a release that included the mono track (and that only after a fake "mono" track on the laser disc release that simply squashed the bad stereo onto one channel). I'd be surprised if Shock Treatement's problems get addressed that quickly (this movie hasn't half the following of the other).
I'm really not writing this to dissuade anyone from buying this product. I'm glad I have it, and I think those who've wanted this release for years will be glad to have it. But I did want to make people aware of the flaws.
Movie Review: No longer ahead of its time
Summary: 4 Stars
It is perhaps a truism that satire is a hard sell; that it doesn't work unless the audience knows exactly what is being satirized. If so, we can forgive 1981 audiences because they "didn't get" Shock Treatment. There is a saying in the theater: "Satire is what closes on Saturday night." Perhaps that can explain the short theatrical life and almost instant dismissal of this smart and clever film upon its initial release. It is a thoroughly satirical, media-mocking work of genius brought to you by the creators of the Rocky Horror Show. However, its original audience were not looking for smart and sassy satire; they were looking for more leather and whips and people running around in their underwear. You'll find none of that here. What you will find is a film about 20 years ahead of its time. It thoroughly savages the concept of media saturation and instant celebrity, aspects of society hardly even mentioned, much less understood back in 1981. Of course, we understand those things NOW due to own sickness of our constant bombardment of Crap Culture artifacts such as "Access Hollywood," "American Idol," and 24/7 news coverage. In this story, the town of Denton seems to utterly live for television. The townspeople sit in the studio audience of the local tv station all day, watching as the shows are taped and even seem to sleep there at night! Brad and Janet's marriage is troubled, so they go to see a marriage counselor. But by the film's logic, said marriage counselor is the host of a game show called "Marriage Maze," their session being televised for all to see. Brad is then committed to an asylum which again is really a soap opera called "Dentonvale." And so on. All their lives are played out before a live audience, relative to whichever show they happen to be on at the time. It's not unlike Jim Carrey's "The Truman Show" in that regard, except the Dentonites know full well they are on tv, revel in that, and constantly aspire to earn themselves roles on "better" shows, backstabbing their friends and relatives in the process. How, I ask you, is that much different from the constant plotting and backstabbing of reality show contestants as they practically sell their souls to stay on the show a little longer? In Brad & Janet's media-as-god society, all of one's private business is a subject of public knowledge and consumption. When Janet's father hears an anecdote about a local boy caught naked with gay Mexicans, he immediately condemns the incident in song, offering his instant judgment by singing "faggots are maggots; thank God I'm a man," much to the delight of the studio audience. This again, foreshadows our current means of public opinion--that of news story followed by immediate reaction via the internet and news commentary shows. I do not know if the movie's creators were amazingly prescient or just far more wary of the media at the time this movie was made...either way it seems like a commentary on TODAY's society, not that of 1981.
Aside from the obvious heavy and somewhat disturbing societal comment, this movie is fast-paced and very fun. The songs are mostly satirical but very enjoyable. "Bitchen in the Kitchen" is a hilarious send-up of common marital missteps, rhyming everyday household appliances with the problems of wedded bliss. Jessica Harper's deep and seductive tones serve her well in several tunes, while the original Rocky Horror cast lends a hand in the larger chorus numbers. The songs aren't as especially memorable or singable as the Rocky Horror songs, but they do achieve a far higher level of wit and intellect. Not to say that this is an "intellectual musical," as it does still have its moments of outright rude hilarity. Ironically, a quick viewing of this movie requires far less brainpower than it did in 1981, because our society has almost become the thing that Shock Treatment satirizes. Anybody viewing it for the first time today will immediately understand its point. Some may even think it is a NEW movie, commenting on "American Idol" and "Survivor."
As for the dvd itself...it's far better than the old vhs release. It is at last in widescreen. The colors, contrast and picture are quite vibrant. The sound seems to have an odd remix in places. In the "Denton" number, it fades out too much during the clapping section, for example. Some of the dialogue scenes are a bit shrill as well. Overall the soundtrack is about 75% of what it should be. But the picture is, I would say, exceptional for its age. There are a few muddled extras...there are two "making of" type documentaries, which manage to record all-too-brief interviews with stars Cliff DeYoung, Betsy Brantley and Rocky alumni Patricia Quinn. There is also a dull audio commentary by Shock Treatment Fan Club Presidents Mad Man Mike and Bill Brennan...let's leave audio commentaries to the professionals from now on, shall we?
The film has long been neglected. It is written off by Rocky Horror fans because it's not a true sequel, and it was ahead of its time and misunderstood by the rest of the public. Its time is NOW. It deserves to be seen and studied, and very much enjoyed. It can be enjoyed on its own merits with or without Rocky Horror. So, leave the leather teddy in the closet, put the toast away and have a look!
Movie Review: Better Than It's Given Credit For
Summary: 4 Stars
If you really want to have a good time with 'Shock Treatment' don't go into it expecting 'Rocky Horror Picture Show Part 2'. The absence of original stars Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick leave voids too big for this film to fill. With that being said 'Shock Treatment' still has some enjoyable moments for fans of the original.
Brad (Cliff De Young) and Janet (Jessica Harper) are unhappily married and still living in Denton. Denton has been converted into a giant T.V. studio where residents live and sleep whenever they're not watching endless hours of reality shows with names like 'Marriage Maze', 'Happy Homes' and 'Dentonvale'. The network, called DTV, has just been bought by a fast food kingpin named Farley Flavors (also De Young). Hoping to jump start their dull marriage Janet volunteers her and Brad for 'Marriage Maze'. The show's host Bert Schnick (Barry Humphries) takes an instant liking to her and an instant disliking to Brad. Together with Farley, Bert comes up with a plan to get Brad out of the picture so they can have full access to Janet. They devise a scheme to have Brad committed to a mental hospital like the one featured in 'Dentonvale' run by brother and sister duo Cosmo (Richard O'Brien) and Nation (Patricia Quinn) McKinley. With Brad locked up and doped up Farley and Bert use their newfound access to exploit and manipulate Janet in every way possible turning her into Denton's biggest celebrity a combination singer/actress. Whenever Janet asks about Brad they just drug her too so that she'll stay in a stupor and never question what's happening to her or her husband.
The film works thanks to it's biting satire and amazing anticipation of the onslaught of reality television that wouldn't occur for another 20 years. The story rings totally true in it's depiction of people willing to be exploited if it means they might become famous in the process. If things become too heady for you there's an amazing soundtrack to keep you entertained. Even die hard 'Rocky Horror' fans concede that the songs are better in 'Shock Treatment'. This being an 80's film that soundtrack includes traditional pop arrangements and ballads but also new wave and punk as well. The 80's treatment doesn't stop with the music the costumes and production design are deliciously retro as well. This film has a color scheme highly reminiscent of another Harper masterpiece 'Suspiria'.
Hopefully more people will discover this film thanks to this special edition DVD and realize it's not as bad as they've heard. It's actually pretty fun. Either way it proves Richard O'Brien's evil genius as both songwriter/composer and actor. To quote Farley Flavors "You're not looking at a king, you're looking at an Ace."