★ 6 / 10
This is, like its predecessor, sort of a
Jonathan K
This is, like its predecessor, sort of a free-associative movie, essentially creating the experience of suddenly finding yourself in a place that's completely…
This is, like its predecessor, sort of a free-associative movie, essentially creating the experience of suddenly finding yourself in a place that's completely beyond understanding, and somehow there's no way out. The trouble is, while Rocky Horror ultimately played it in a timeless fashion, and was ultimately about nothing but the situation itself, Shock Treatment feels solely locked to the 80s, and also appears to try to be about something, but that message is pretty much lost. Essentially, it's about the contrast of Network TV & Commercialism vs Small Town Life, and it works okay, but it's hard to tell if there's meaning to it, or if it's just a backdrop to the story. On that note, the story is even more nonsensical and "all a blur" than Rocky Horror, and truthfully, while some songs are pretty great, many are forgettable. Worst is that Brad & Janet are falling apart, but they actually share almost no scenes together, making all feel a bit... hopeless for them, in multiple ways.
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★ 10 / 10
Does it have its issues? Sure! But so
Andrew S
Does it have its issues? Sure! But so does its predecessor. What it lacks in dynamic shots and choreography I think it makes up for in music and oddity. No one…
Does it have its issues? Sure!
But so does its predecessor. What it lacks in dynamic shots and choreography I think it makes up for in music and oddity.
No one ever agrees with me on this but I firmly believe the music here is at least AS good as Rocky Horror...maybe even better. I listen to this soundtrack all the time and I only listen to Rocky Horror when I watch the movie, usually around Halloween. O'Brien is just a really good songwriter with really weird ideas.
The performances are also all stellar. Jessica Harper plays Janet VERY differently from Sarandon and it totally works. Cliff DeYoung can sing in two different voices? Hell, even the Charles Gray more to work with....there's just a lot to like about it.
It also accidentally predicted reality TV and I feel that's not mentioned enough.
Maybe if this movie hadn't gotten such a poor release and reception, I'd be more critical but...the stuff that works here is really good and overshadows my complaints.
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★ 5 / 10
Its got some memorable moments, mostly from Richard
John K
Its got some memorable moments, mostly from Richard O'Brien and Rik Mayall, and the set designs are very creative. However, there's some awful acting and some…
Its got some memorable moments, mostly from Richard O'Brien and Rik Mayall, and the set designs are very creative.
However, there's some awful acting and some of the songs are terrible.
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