Shock to the System: A Donald Strachey Mystery

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Shock to the System: A Donald Strachey Mystery

R

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

08/14/2006

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.

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Nathan Lee

New York Times

08/04/2006

3/5

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

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Michael Ordoña

Los Angeles Times

08/03/2006

2/5

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.

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Pam Grady

Reel.com

08/05/2006

2.5/4

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

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Maitland McDonagh

TV Guide

08/04/2006

2.5/4

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.

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05/13/2012

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

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04/07/2012

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

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10/12/2011

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

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11/26/2010

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

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06/26/2010

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.

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05/09/2010

A detective movie with a coherent gay theme. Interesting!

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Ron Oliver

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Chad Allen

Donald Strachey

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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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