moshomaniac This much detested sequel to The Rocky Horror Picture Show was panned by critics and audiences alike when first released in 1981. A big fan of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, I decided to give it a watch. Though I knew of the film's infamy, I wanted to keep an open mind, like I do with all films. When the film began, my reaction differed drastically than the majority of RHPS fans--I LOVED it!!Shock Treatment must be viewed as a stand alone picture to be truly loved and appreciated. It was notoriously dubbed "an equal" upon its release, a notion that angered most RHPS fans. But I do think the film is a interesting-and fun-picture in its own right. If anything, it's more intricate and sophisticated than RHPS . The production values are top-notch, and the story is a bit cliché, but so was the proceeding film. The story takes place in the hometown of Brad and Janet, Denton, where the entire town has been turned into a huge television studio, where its brainwashed residents participate in 24/7 television, complete with commercials. Predating The Truman Show by almost a decade, Shock Treatment's biting satire of a world consumed by television, if anything, resonated even greater today. The idea of having the entire film take place on a soundstage was not a stroke of genius by Richard O'Brien, it was done out of necessity: the previous plot of the film--called "The Brad and Janet Show", which featured Brad and Janet's adventures shot on location in Denton, had to be scrapped due to a writer's strike going on at the time, so they opted to take the production back to England, and film it in its entirety on the giant television set. The film suffers from what I like to call "Halloween 3 syndrome", as it decided to take a familiar story and do something different and unique with the characters. Also, Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon didn't reprise their roles and Brad and Janet, played by different actors. Charles Gray, Little Nell, Richard O'Brien, and Jeremy Newson all return to the sequel, but play different characters: only Jeremy Newson reprises his role, as the character Ralph Hapschatt who was featured briefly on Rocky Horror. Overall, Shock Treatment, though not as good as Rocky Horror, is a misunderstood film that is not near as bad as its reputation would suggest. I suggest watching it with an open mind, and remove all pretenses of it being related at all to RHPS(because, in all honesty, it isn't). But if you are looking for a wild, crazy satire that is truly unique, give it a whirl. You might end up enjoying it.

DuctTapeAvenger I first saw this movie by going out on a limb and buying it on VHS from amazon. Now, I must warn you, this strays far from Rocky Horror Picture Show, so try not to compare the two too much.Now I could go over the plot but that is what what the plot outline is for correct?What I would like to base my review on is about the SERIOUSNESS of the plot. Predating the movie "The Running Man" by six years and the novel of the same name by five. It touched on other things so blatantly obvious now it's ridiculous. Now, (spoiler alert) during the scene where they go to the home area with Janet's family, there is product placement everywhere and gives echoes of Fahrenheit 451.I highly recommend this movie to sci-fi nerds, even if you're not a fan of RHPS.

Gameguyadv While not as popular, or recognized as, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Shock Treatment gives us another look into music genius Richard O'Brien's outlook on life. This time in reality television. Denton is just an allusion to the iron grip that the media holds on everyone's life. Heck, it was like O'Brien had a vision during the actor's strike to rewrite The Brad and Janet Show as Shock Treatment to warn us all about the media and its control on our lives. Someone tell me that the Farley Flavors Fabulous Fast Food logo is not the Nazi Swastika. But still, while not as popular as Rocky, ST still had its crowning moments. The villainous wardrobe change, the ride into the err sunset, and the everyone in town ending up in straight jackets for blindly following Mussolini I mean farley are all there. Despite lack of character development and confusing back story, Shock Treatment will please everyone, and their English teacher.

metalrox_2000 It's hard to follow a piece of genius like the Rocky Horror Picutre Show. Richard O'Brien tries, and nearly succeeds, if he didn't give into being cheesy at times. Some regulars return in different roles, such as O'Brien, Patrica Quinn, "Little" Nell Campbell, and Charles Gray. However, the tongue in cheek humor and craziness of Rocky Horror, gives way to a film that tries to be bizarre for bizarre sake.Cliff DeYoung is underused is a duel role, and Jessica Harper seems even more prudish and isn't as attractive as Susan Surrandon was in Rocky Horror. Not that Harper isn't pretty, just that she frighteningly has too close to a unibrow for my taste.The lines are over the top in delivery too many times, and it detracts from the film. The plot really doesn't matter, and nor should it. The film does have some decent songs,a few of which would have fit in nicely in Rocky Horror. But those sets with the Bright Red and Hot Pink just hurt the eyes, and I pity those who saw this in the theater or watch it in high def, you're going to hurt your eyes.The plus for me is Little Nell as the seductive Nurse Ansalong. As weird as she was in Rocky Horror, she's simply sexy as the nurse who just seems to be the prototype of any erotic fantasy involving a nurse. She looks a lot different then she did in Rocky, with flowing red hair, a delightfully short skirt, which gives way to many pantie shots of her.The film could have used more of an interjection of her, and less of Jessica Harper singing. O'Brien and Quinn seemed that they should have had more screen time as well.That being said, the film is enjoyable in some parts, unwatchable in others (espcially those in the terrible rooms mentioned above)and delivers some decent songs. Good for collectors of O'Brien's work, but those expecting a film on par with Rocky Horror, you'll be disappointed.