Shock to the System: A Donald Strachey Mystery

R

Released Aug 4, 2006

1h 31m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

LGBTQ+

List

50%

8 Reviews

Tomatometer

53%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

After the mysterious demise of a client, private detective Donald Strachey (Chad Allen) infiltrates a therapy group for gay people who want to become straight. He takes on the group's founder (Michael Woods) to prove that his client's death was not a suicide.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Jul 26

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Apple TV

Rent Shock to the System: A Donald Strachey Mystery on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

Audience Member

This is a sly, refreshingly grown-up gay entertainment, though rather less satisfying as a thriller.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is a sly, refreshingly grown-up gay entertainment, though rather less satisfying as a thriller.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

just ok gay dective story that feels like a made 4 TV movie.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A bit off for this one; & getting formulaic too. And... wow... Morgan Fairchild(!).

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Wonderfully cliched but affectionate gay-Private Eye flick. It won't broaden anyone's cultural horizons but they may find it a rather light-weight way to spent an hour or so.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A detective movie with a coherent gay theme. Interesting!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Ron Oliver

Director

Chad Allen

Donald Strachey

Morgan Fairchild

Phyllis Hale

Sebastian Spence

Timmy

Michael Woods

Dr. Cornell

Daryl Shuttleworth

Detective Bailey

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

32%

27%

The Black Dahlia

94%

86%

Gone Baby Gone

18%

38%

Suspect Zero

TRAILER

for Suspect Zero

40%

35%

The Night Listener

24%

25%

Freedomland

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Frank Scheck

Hollywood Reporter

While the idea would certainly seem to hold promise for interesting social commentary, the script by Ron McGee lacks the necessary bite, as does the rote direction of Ron Oliver.

Aug 14, 2006

Full Review

Nathan Lee

New York Times

This is a sly, refreshingly grown-up gay entertainment, though rather less satisfying as a thriller.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 4, 2006

Full Review

Michael Ordoña

Los Angeles Times

Where film noir is often punch-drunk with a jab of snappy patter and a left hook of world-weary cynicism, Shock tries to clinch with understanding.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 3, 2006

Full Review

Pam Grady

Reel.com

It's certainly a pleasant enough way to kill 90 minutes.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 5, 2006

Full Review

Maitland McDonagh

TV Guide

Were it not for the fact that the hero and many of the major supporting characters are gay... this breezy, disposable film could as easily have been a mainstream network pilot for a McMillan and Wife-style series.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 4, 2006

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

After the mysterious demise of a client, private detective Donald Strachey (Chad Allen) infiltrates a therapy group for gay people who want to become straight. He takes on the group's founder (Michael Woods) to prove that his client's death was not a suicide.

Director: Ron Oliver
Producer: Barry Krost, James Shavick, Paul Colichman
Screenwriter: Ron McGee
Distributor: Regent Releasing
Production Co: Shavick/Insight Studios
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content|A Violent Image|Nudity|Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 4, 2006, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.7K
Runtime: 1h 31m

Most Popular at Home Now