Shock Treatment
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Movie Reviews of Shock Treatment
Movie Review: Quite Good, Actually
Summary: 3 Stars
I always wondered about this, having seen RHPS about 19 times by my last estimate (high school and college). Back in the day, the buzz was immediately killed when word got out that Brad and Janet were being played by different actors, and that there would be no Tim Curry. For me, the lack of a haunted castle was also a disappointment. I don't think it was in theaters very long, at least not in my areas (Miami/Atlanta).
Anyway, some of the key elements are still in place here. We have the basic idea of putting a naive couple through lots of misery--and to another nifty glam-rock soundtrack (with a touch of new wave). We also have Mr. O'Brien and Ms. Quinn as another incestuous bro-sis team and Nell Campbell as a squeaky sexpot.
Cast and production team commentary go on and on about whether this is a sequel, a prequel, or (they unanimously agree) an "equal." By my reasoning, it's a sequel, but only in the sense that it has to happen after the events of RHPS. Brad and Janet are married, and Ralph and Betty Hapschatt are now separated. No, there is not one reference to what happened in the previous film. It seems that Brad's apparent romantic difficulties in this movie could have been tied in to the past trauma. But you wouldn't know that from the script.
The set design and costumes are brilliant. Charles Gray has a bigger part here. He gets to walk around and have a part in the actual plot (but still shows no evidence of a "*&%$ing neck"). Barry Humphries, now Dame Edna, has a big part as loony game show host Bert Schnick. Big, or minor, trivia note: the guy who plays Ralph (Jeremy Newson) is the only person to play the same role in both films.
So. Different. But not better. But not completely different, and quite good. Rocky fanatics should not avoid this for fear of disappointment. It's a nice dessert after the main course. Another slice, anyone?
Movie Review: "DVD player, can't this movie end sooner than later...?"
Summary: 2 Stars
"Shock Treatment" is the sequel to "The Rocky Horror Picture Show". It bombed at the box office and was nearly forgotten until it was finally released on DVD. Apparently it's had a bit of a cult fandom, though not as strong as the original. Unfortunately, the film its fans adore isn't as strong either.
The plot involves Brad and Janet (our heroes from the previous film) finding themselves in "Denton, USA", a TV station that practically functions as its own city. They're chosen as contestants for a medical game show, and the owner of the station falls in love with Janet. He immediately has Brad locked up while Janet is brain-washed into his adoring bride. Among the strange, eclectic cast include the two doctors overlooking Brad (Richard O'Brien and Patricia Quinn, playing incest again) the nurse (Nell Campbell, aka Little Nell) and the "blind" show host.
The ensemble is all right for the most part. Brad and Janet are played by two different people: Cliff De Young and Jessica Harper. They're OK, except I could never get over Jessica Harper's voice; it can sometimes get deep, kinda like Cher's does, and there were times where she was singing off-screen and I actually, sincerely thought Brad was singing!
The story itself tries really hard to be clever, but falls short of a lot of potential. Spoofing sensationalist television would especially strike a chord in this day and age of reality shows, but the movie can't get off the ground with it. It just sticks to the thin plot of the villain's love for Janet and kinda lingers on that for a long while. Halfway through this movie gets terribly boring, and feels like it goes on forever. Right to the very end you're worried that you, yourself, are stuck in a show, forced to partake in whatever the studio manager desires you to do. Yeah, "Rocky Horror" was weird, but at least after each song you felt like you were going somewhere, not just stuck in a mobius strip of weirdness.
I once read a review that said this film was ahead of its time, but O'Brien needed to clean up the script - I have to agree with that. I really wanted to enjoy this film; some of the songs (like "Denton USA" or "B****in' In the Kitchen") are really catchy, and it has a fun style of film making to it. It's just too bad the storyline and wit couldn't have been sharper.
Movie Review: Strange, unimpressive, non-entertaining (typical sequel?)
Summary: 2 Stars
Since I like RHS, I decided to have a look at this sequel. Given that it's not particularly well known (some people calling it "hidden gem"...), I was wondering whether there is a reason for that -- after all, you'd think rocky-heads would definitely have checked it out.
Well, yes, there is a reason. This musical/movie is rubbish, almost complete waste of time. Lack of plot is more evident than in RHS, and all in all it's just meaningless -- not funny, not particularly witty, doesn't go anywhere. And its "criticism" of media (or parody of 60s/70s tv shows, whatever) is too direct, too unsubtle. All in all, it's unfortunately a quite typical sequel.
I guess it is possible that in its time this was relevant, and it has just aged badly. But there are many movies that were relevant in their day and yet are still enjoyable to watch. This one is not vintage wine but low-grade vinegar.
I still give it two stars (as opposed to one) since it is some fun to spot all early-80s artifacts, from Space Invaders arcade machines to hair styles. And character casting/acting is not bad, even though plot is below sub-standard, and music is just-ok as well.
Movie Review: Just.. don't
Summary: 2 Stars
Hated Rocky..
Well.. I hated it on video dvd or any other way you might use to view it at home..
Actually going to the show paying your money and getting the bag full of goodies to throw..
Every week for years.. I almost got recruited to play Brad.. I knew better by the time they tried to get me to join though..
That said.. mentioning Shock Treatment in that crowed 'The biggest group fans you are likely to find of the person responsible for this film' results in variety of horrified reactions and warning never to ever see it..
Although if you must or feel a unresistible compulsion to watch this film.. alcohol helps.. you will need a lot of it however..
Movie Review: GREAT SONGS, BAD MOVIE
Summary: 2 Stars
While Jessica Harper is just terrific, and the songs are actually quite good, the biggest problem with "Shock Treatment" is how incredibly...dull....it is. The film lumbers along with no focus really except Brad and Janet's crumbling marriage and how the head honcho of the tv station lusts after Janet. Sadly, the film is just a big yawn.