About the movie:
Shock Treatment is the sequel, of sorts, to the cult classic movie
The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It features the same two main characters as the first
movie, Brad and Janet Majors, played by two new actors in the roles, Cliff DeYoung and Jessica Harper.
This time Brad and Janet, now an unhappily married suburban couple, are tempted by the lure of fame
and fortune as represented by a game show run by a demented TV sponsor and his even more twisted
psychological colleagues, Dr. Cosmo McKinley and Nation McKinley. All conspire to imprison Brad in
an insane asylum.
As Rocky Horror was an examination
of the role of sexuality in urban life, Shock Treatment studies the role of the media and
the addictive nature of fame in our society. And while
Rocky Horror is by far, the better known movie, the MovieGroupie feels both as a
social commentary and a movie musical, Shock Treatment is easily the earlier movie's equal.
The roles of Cosmo and Nation are played by
Rocky Horror and Shock Treatment creator Richard O'Brien and fellow
Rocky Horror alum, Patricia Quinn.
Other Rocky Horror returning faces
include Nell Campbell and Charles Gray.
There are also small roles for British cult TV favorites Rik Mayall and Barry Humphries (best
known for his character, Dame Edna Everage). Barry Humphries and Richard O'Brien later on both
had roles in the very fun rock 'n' roll pastiche Spice World.
Jessica Harper also starred in another cult favorite 1970's movie musical: Phantom of the Paradise.
Personal:
While the WriterGroupie did not discover "Shocky" until well into her years in
Rocky Horror fandom, her love for the movie grows with each viewing (and she's now
watched it almost two dozen times). The soundtrack contains just as many gems as
Rocky Horror. And since in her maturation as a "Rocky" and "Shocky" fan, she has grown
to adore Richard O'Brien, there are moments when she watches this movie or listens to the soundtrack
when she thinks she may love this movie even more than
Rocky Horror. Partly because she is extemely amused by the movie's skewering of the
media and its influence on our lives and partly just because she loves the music. Either way, it
still makes for a generally undiscovered treasure that she highly recommends viewing more than
once in order to appreciate the statements it makes.
And while nominally a sequel to
Rocky Horror, a viewer does not have to have seen the first movie to enjoy this one as
this is a completely self-contained story unto itself. Those turned off by the blatant sexuality
of Rocky Horror will probably find this
movie more palatable, though as with any Richard O'Brien project, there is an inherent sensuality
to it that is lightly played on in one or two scenes.
