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A Shock to the System

Play trailer Poster for A Shock to the System R 1990 1h 31m Mystery & Thriller Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
70% Tomatometer 33 Reviews 61% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
When experienced advertising executive Graham Marshall (Michael Caine) loses out on a promotion to a younger man, the situation inadvertently leads him to cause a subway accident in which a homeless man is killed. Discovering that there are no consequences to this incident, Marshall begins plotting revenge on anyone who has wronged him, and even his longtime wife, Leslie (Swoosie Kurtz), isn't safe. How far will Marshall travel down this path of vengeance?

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A Shock to the System

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Critics Consensus

Aided by Michael Caine's finely layered performance, A Shock to the System finds dark comedy in the cutthroat modern business world.

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Critics Reviews

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Peter Rainer Los Angeles Times 04/09/2021
What's remarkable is that you come away from the movie laughing at Graham's murderous indiscretions and yet you're frightened by them too. Caine makes you taste the ashes in this black comedy. Go to Full Review
Dave Kehr Chicago Tribune 04/09/2021
2.5/4
What might have seemed bafflingly inconsistent behavior in the hands of a lesser performer is here synthesized by Caine's relaxed and subtle work into a more complex characterization. Go to Full Review
Jay Boyar Orlando Sentinel 04/09/2021
4/5
Egleson and Klavan know exactly what their themes are, and they've got the guts and brains to carry them through. Besides, whenever their efforts flag, Michael Caine's exceptional performance is always a compensation. Go to Full Review
Eddie Harrison film-authority.com 05/27/2024
3/5
…Caine clearly relishes playing an out-and-out rotter…for star fans, and that should include almost everyone, A Shock to the System’s quirky black comedy is certainly worth seeking out… Go to Full Review
Christopher Tookey Sunday Telegraph (UK) 10/17/2023
Elizabeth McGovern is so charming as Caine's lover that the ending becomes unintentionally disconcerting, if not downright disappointing. But there are many worse ways of spending 90 minutes. Go to Full Review
Madeleine Harmsworth Sunday Mirror (UK) 10/17/2023
4/5
A thoroughly amoral, wickedly funny and very black comedy-thriller, with some sharp scenes on cut-throat office politics. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Harold C. @ChambersContent Oct 3 A dark comedy with a consistent tone and the occasional sharp laugh, but the story never finds its footing. Despite Michael Caine’s energy and some standout support from Swoosie Kurtz, the film feels unfocused, padded with dialogue, and thematically thin, leaving little to hold onto once the credits roll. See more 03/24/2024 another one of the great Michael Caine's earliest works based on the book by Simon Brett he plays a businessman Graham Marshall with a rocky existence; his home is in disrepair, his marriage is falling apart, his job is going nowhere, and he's ted up with it all so what's someone like him to do when all is against this man? take revenge of course among all those whom have wronged Graham To be frank Caine is the best thing in this. He's terrific but I thought the movie was too much of a slow burner. Still nerve wracking seeing a businessman crack and making all those whom have wronged him pay. He actually does narrate the entire thing from his voice but as if this character was completely made on his own. Almost anyone will do what they can to get away from scrapping at the bottom and come out on top. Most of us if not all of us get a shock to our system of learning, living, and understanding. Our minds may be re-worked entirely because of how much resentment is built up over time we'd kill to have it change. Nothing too groundbreaking here but Caine really plays that unstable blue collar official with such class and mysterious mindset. See more 03/24/2023 another one of the great Michael Caine's earliest works based on the book by Simon Brett he plays a businessman Graham Marshall with a rocky existence; his home is in disrepair, his marriage is falling apart, his job is going nowhere, and he's fed up with it all so what's someone like him to do when all is against this man? take revenge of course among all those whom have wronged Graham To be frank Caine is the best thing in this. He's terrific but I thought the movie was too much of a slow burner. Still nerve wracking seeing a businessman crack and making all those whom have wronged him pay. He actually does narrate the entire thing from his voice but as if this character was completely made on his own. Almost anyone will do what they can to get away from scrapping at the bottom and come out on top. Most of us if not all of us get a shock to our system of learning, living, and understanding. Our minds may be re-worked entirely because of how much resentment is built up over time we’d kill to have it change. Nothing too groundbreaking here but Caine really plays that unstable blue collar official with such class and mysterious mindset. See more jelisije j 11/05/2021 Talk about a man going to the dark side when things don't go his way. See more 03/23/2020 another one of the great Michael Caine's earliest works based on the book by Simon Brett he plays a businessman Graham Marshall with a rocky existence; his home is in disrepair, his marriage is falling apart, his job is going nowhere, and he's fed up with it all so what's someone like him to do when all is against this man? take revenge of course among all those whom have wronged Graham To be frank Caine is the best thing in this. He's terrific but I thought the movie was too much of a slow burner. Still nerve wracking seeing a businessman crack and making all those whom have wronged him pay. He actually does narrate the entire thing from his voice but as if this character was completely made on his own. Almost anyone will do what they can to get away from scrapping at the bottom and come out on top. Most of us if not all of us get a shock to our system of learning, living, and understanding. Our minds may be re-worked entirely because of how much resentment is built up over time we'd kill to have it change. Nothing too groundbreaking here but Caine really plays that unstable blue collar official with such class and mysterious mindset. See more 10/26/2018 This is a great whodunit without a twist. Still holds up well decades later. See more Read all reviews
A Shock to the System

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Movie Info

Synopsis When experienced advertising executive Graham Marshall (Michael Caine) loses out on a promotion to a younger man, the situation inadvertently leads him to cause a subway accident in which a homeless man is killed. Discovering that there are no consequences to this incident, Marshall begins plotting revenge on anyone who has wronged him, and even his longtime wife, Leslie (Swoosie Kurtz), isn't safe. How far will Marshall travel down this path of vengeance?
Director
Jan Egleson
Producer
Patrick McCormick
Screenwriter
Andrew Klavan
Production Co
Brigand Films
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 3, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.0M
Runtime
1h 31m
Sound Mix
Surround
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