Review of Shock Treatment (1973) by Jonathan S — 13 Sep 2013

If not one of the most underrated movies ever, Shock Treatment is certainly the most underrated musical. True, it's not the tightest production. O'Brien derided it as "flawed" and "difficult to follow." Well I LOVE movies that are flawed and difficult to follow. The flaws give it it's character and the difficulty gives me a challenge. Should we damn the Ramones for being simple and sloppy? The Police for being cryptic? DEVO for being completely manic?

A creepy, unsettling, paranoid, surreal atmosphere permeates the film as the lines between TV and "reality" are completely unidentifiable. It skewers, mainstream culture, suburban complacency, and so much more. It's one if the best songbooks I've ever heard and every number is delivered with more skill and heart than the Rocky Horror. It's like a musical of Truman Show, a decade earlier.

There are so many gems in it. The politically correct, oafish cheerleaders; the bizarre color schemes; Janet's disregard for the fourth wall...I see something new every time I watch it. And my 13 year old son may be a bigger fan than me.

In 30 years and countless rewatchings, I still haven't gotten tired of this movie or the great music that carries it.