Shock Treatment (1981) |  | Director: Jim Sharman
Actors: Jessica Harper, Cliff De Young, Richard O'Brien, Patricia Quinn, Charles Gray
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $6.17
as of 11/22/2009 16:48 CST details
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New (30) Used (11) from $4.45
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Rating:  108 reviews
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 94 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 2236746
UPC: 024543267461
EAN: 0024543267461
Theatrical Release Date: 1981
Release Date: September 5, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Brad and Janet from Rocky Horror are in trouble again in this funny semi-sequel, featuring an early appearance by Dame Edna. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: MUSICALS Rating: PG Age: 024543267461 UPC: 024543267461 Manufacturer No: 2236746 |
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Product Description
Brad and Janet from Rocky Horror are in trouble again in this funny semi-sequel featuring an early appearance by Dame Edna.System Requirements:Running Time: 92 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: MUSICALS/MUSICALS Rating: PG UPC: 024543267461 Manufacturer No: 2236746
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 108
Snarky, Witty and the Music Is Catchy November 8, 2009
P. D. Clarke (Denver, Colorado)
I went with my friends to midnight screenings of this at The Waverly theater right after it opened in New York, back in 1981. At the time, the pervasive use of video and television in the movie, blown up on a theatre screen, made it look astonishingly different. It really seemed fresh. Since then, the style has been copied to death and the effect has been diminished - especially on television, where it looks like television.
At the Waverly there was already a handful of "regulars" attending the midnight showings (it only played at midnight). These kids were clearly planted by 20th Century-Fox to get the audience participation going, hoping for another "Rocky Horror Picture Show." There were a few smart and well-timed responses which are now long forgotten. This movie tanked but not deservedly.
It has a very dry patter to it and the acting is good. It takes multiple screenings to catch all the stuff that's said and going on. It's duh-roll duh-roll, as they say. The cast includes Barry Humphries (Dame Edna) as Bert Schnick, and Ruby Wax (who was much later a script supervisor for "Absolutely Fabulous" and who appeared in the "Menopause" episode as Beth DeWoody.) Rounding out the cast is Nell Campbell, Richard O'Brien, Patricia Quinn and Charles Gray, all from "Rocky Horror." Seeing Brad and Janet portrayed by Cliff DeYoung and Jessica Harper was a bit of a shock at first, but Jessica Harper is a zinger and her voice is terrific. She has never worked enough in my opinion.
The film starts off strong and bright but it hits a sleepy spot around the middle point, from which it never fully recovers. Nevertheless, the songs are ace! The best are "In My Own Way," "Denton, U.S.A.," "Lullaby" and the title song, "Shock Treatment." It's definitely worth a look on Netflix if you've never seen it. It's too bad it never really found an audience in the first place.
 I really liked it...does that make me unhealthy? September 3, 2009
Corey Merritt (Bethlehem, PA)
I just saw 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show,' recently, I was like, the last dork on the planet who hadn't seen it. And I have to say, I thought it was really good. So naturally, when I found out there was a sequel, I had to see it. Many of the actors from 'Rocky Horror,' return as different, but similar characters for 'Shock Treatment.' But if your a fan of 'Rocky Horror,' the only thing you need to watch this movie is an open mind. It's not a sequel to 'Rocky Horror,' in the sense that all the same characters come back for the same adventure we got the first time, but rather, a new adventure, with the two major characters of 'Rocky Horror,' Brad and Janet and a whole slew of new characters with a totally different basis than 'Rocky Horror.' Whereas upon viewing 'Rocky Horror,' I got the impression the movie was about sexual-expression and freedom, watching 'Shock Treatment,' gave me the opposite impression, as it appears to be about corporate omnipotence, corrupt psychiatry and the suppression of the mind that television builds in general. The songs are all incredible, and every song sung in 'Shock Treatment,' is just as memorable as every song sung in 'Rocky Horror.' Overall, I thought 'Shock Treatment,' was every bit as good as 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show,' and it could be viewed as a sequel, or standalone. But one thing's for certain, you need an open-mind before watching it.
Excellent DVD package for Shock Treatment fans May 1, 2009
Tell It Like It Is (Planet Earth)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
If you are a fan of Shock Treatment, this DVD is the one you want. It has a few documentaries full of information and a wonderful commentary track as well. The color and over all image is fantastic, especially for those of us used to the old VHS release. Also, the sound quality is excellent.
A reviewer here said that the commentary should have been "left to professionals". This is a mean thing to say, especially considering that Madman Mike IS a professional in the world of Rocky Horror and Shock Treatment. Mike did a FABULOUS job. So did Bill Brennon for that matter. They give you tons of behind the scenes trivia and insight on the meaning of the movie and its making. I've heard the commentary on many, many DVDs and I've heard horrible ones that were done by directors, actors and other production people. In fact, just listen to the commentary done by Kiara Knightly on one of the Pirates of the Caribbean DVDs and you will think Madman Mike and Bill Brennon are totally professional by comparison.
Shock Treatment is very obscure in the scheme of things but it does have some really die hard fans and a "cult within a cult" following with Rocky Horror fans. Shock Treatment was WAY ahead of its time on many levels, especially predicting the direction that reality TV would go. There's not much reality in reality TV, and this movie sort of knew that before it happened.
This movie isn't for everyone. But for fans, its a long awaited and fantastic presentation and I can't recommend this DVD enough.
Much better than it's given credit for April 11, 2009
Richard Ross
In order to enjoy this film you have to abandon any "Rocky Horror" expectations you have. The minute stars Tim Curry, Barry Bostwick, and Susan Sarandon declined to participate "Shock Treatment" ceased to be a sequel and turned into a continuation. Jessica Harper and Cliff De Young were brought in to star as Brad and Janet and their casting was no mistake. Harper, star of two of the biggest cult films "Suspiria", and my all time fave "Phantom of the Paradise", puts her experience to good use and takes the role of Janet places Sarandon couldn't have. De Young isn't given much to do as Brad but as Farley Flavors, a sleazy fast food kingpin who has just taken over the main T.V. network, he gives a perfect performance. De Young says he modeled Flavors after Jack Nicholson and traces of that homage can be seen, especially his speech at the end of the film. Instead of taking place in a Gothic castle on a rainy night, the whole film takes place in a giant T.V. studio. Though interesting in concept, it does limit the film. Brad and Janet are trapped in an unhappy marriage. They become contestants on a game show called "Marriage Maze", in the hopes of saving the relationship. The host is a freaky Viennese guy named Burt Schnick (Barry Humphries). Schnick takes a liking to Janet and suggests to her that she ditch Brad . Farley Flavors also takes notice of Janet and devises a scheme to get Brad out of the picture and turn Janet into a huge star. A popular show called "Dentonvale" is set in a mental hospital. Farley decides that he will have Brad committed. The "doctors" on the show are Cosmo and Nation McKinley (Richard O' Brien and Patricia Quinn). They become Brad's primary care providers and they are assisted by a Nurse played by Nell Campbell. Good God is Little Nell hot in this movie. Anyway, now that Brad is bound and gagged and in a drugged out stupor, Farley can execute his master plan. He starts by giving Janet a whole new look and wardrobe. Next she becomes the star of "Dentonvale" when she pays her husband daily visits to gloat about how fabulous she's become. It doesn't take long for Janet to draw a huge following and she becomes a superstar. Like many an instant celeb before her Janet turns into a doped up star surrounded by groupies and handlers who all want a piece of her. The film is a very sharp satire of a media obsessed culture that in the 80's is nowhere near what it is today. It foreshadows the reality T.V. craze almost exactly. The opening shot of the film for instance could be taken out of "Deal or No Deal". Die hard "Rocky Horror" fans refuse to admit that the music is better in this movie but it is. The songs are catchy and well written and run the gamut from pop, to new wave, to punk. The film is deliciously 80's in terms of music, colors, and costumes. Richard O' Brien, whether acting or writing for film or music, is a genius and this film showcases his talents. To quote Farley Flavors "You're not looking at a king, you're looking at an Ace". Give this movie a shot and I think you will be shocked at how entertaining it actually is.
This is terrible...I like it! November 10, 2008
Katie (Ottumwa, IA)
The music is fantastic, the plot (after 20+ viewings) is still, to use the words of Richard O'Brien "Muddled...confused." I can't even begin to describe it to people. I heard in an interview with Patricia Quinn that one day during filming, Barry Humphries asked her "Pat? Do you know what this is about?" "No," she replied. That about sums this movie up, but it's good anyway.
I'm a proud owner of a copy of the video, and I whip it out at the slightest provocation. What I especially like about the movie is the rhythm, the feel of it. It belongs to no specific time, it's long-ago and it's now, and it's the future. It's almost alagorical, it's an absurdist perspective on media.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 108
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