Shock to the System: A Donald Strachey Mystery

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Shock to the System: A Donald Strachey Mystery

R

Released Aug 4, 2006

1h 31m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

50%

Tomatometer

8 Reviews

53%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

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.

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Frank Scheck

The 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

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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

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Pam Grady

Reel.com

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

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 5, 2006

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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

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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

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Audience Member

A detective movie with a coherent gay theme. Interesting!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

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Ron Oliver

Director

Chad Allen

Donald Strachey

Morgan Fairchild

Phyllis Hale

Sebastian Spence

Timmy

Michael Woods

Dr. Cornell

Daryl Shuttleworth

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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: Kirk Shaw
Screenwriter: Ron McGee
Distributor: Regent Releasing
Production Co: Shavick/Insight Studios, here! Films, Insight Film 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

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