Review of Shock Treatment (1981) by Carl M — 20 Jan 2013

When watching 'Shock Treatment', you have to throw all notions of a sequel to RHPS out the window. This movie, while sharing characters with RHPS, is somewhat darker than its cousin, and is billed "as equal" to its predecessor.

Taking place in a television studio, we see much how Brad and Janet have come apart and how keen Janet is to fix the solution, or try to anyway. Brad is taken away in a straitjacket, drugged, and jailed in a cage for most of the film. Janet and her parents are sucked into the glamour of it all, used by Farley Flavors, the man behind the scenes.

Using the Drs McKinley and game show host Bert Schnick as agents, Janet is convinced to become 'Mrs Mental Health", as the perfect 'girl-next-door' for Flavors new television programme "Faith Factory.".

Betty Munroe and Judge Wright, who are shown in the beginning after the DENTON introduction, have been pushed aside and being sympathetic to Brad, uncover some unsettling truths about the whole operation.

Soon enough, Janet's ego rises to uncontrollable heights, at which point the McKinley's drug her to keep her under control.

"Faith Factory" premiers and using a performance by Janet's fans, Munroe and the Judge break Brad out of his Dentonvale jail and confront Flavors about his motives. Once found out, Flavors orders his brother, Janet, Munroe and the Judge arrested and once in custody, the audience is given straitjackets to wear and they all move towards the Dentonvale set.

The foursome break out and drive out of the DTV studios, leaving the audience members behind to their fate in Flavors' new mental ward.

A quite remarkable movie, with a soundtrack that right up there with RHPS, although some might disagree with me. It's important to think of both films as connected, but not related by content.

Terribly underrated, quite delicious.