Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Shock to the System: A Donald Strachey Mystery

Play trailer Poster for Shock to the System: A Donald Strachey Mystery R Released Aug 4, 2006 1h 31m Mystery & Thriller Crime Drama LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 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.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

Shock to the System: A Donald Strachey Mystery

Critics Reviews

View All (8) Critics Reviews
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 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

Audience Reviews

View All (43) audience reviews
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
Shock to the System: A Donald Strachey Mystery

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

The Black Dahlia 32% 27% The Black Dahlia Watchlist Gone Baby Gone 94% 86% Gone Baby Gone Watchlist Suspect Zero 17% 38% Suspect Zero Watchlist TRAILER for Suspect Zero The Night Listener 40% 35% The Night Listener Watchlist Freedomland 23% 25% Freedomland Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

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, Insight Film Studios, here! Films
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