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A Shock to the System

R 1990 1h 31m Mystery & Thriller Comedy List
71% Tomatometer 34 Reviews 61% Audience Score 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? Read More Read Less
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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

View All (34) Critics Reviews
Peter Rainer Los Angeles Times 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. Apr 9, 2021 Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Tribune 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. Rated: 2.5/4 Apr 9, 2021 Full Review Jay Boyar Orlando Sentinel 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. Rated: 4/5 Apr 9, 2021 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com …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… Rated: 3/5 May 27, 2024 Full Review Christopher Tookey Sunday Telegraph (UK) 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. Oct 17, 2023 Full Review Madeleine Harmsworth Sunday Mirror (UK) A thoroughly amoral, wickedly funny and very black comedy-thriller, with some sharp scenes on cut-throat office politics. Rated: 4/5 Oct 17, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (46) audience reviews
Audience Member 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. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/24/24 Full Review Audience Member 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. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/24/23 Full Review jelisije j Talk about a man going to the dark side when things don't go his way. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member 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. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a great whodunit without a twist. Still holds up well decades later. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member AIt is like breaze after midnight under full moon. I want repeat this film again and again. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews
A Shock to the System

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Cast & Crew

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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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