Shock Treatment

Shock Treatment was the less successful and critically panned sequel to the classic cult film The Rocky Horror Picture Show (RHPS). It was released in 1981, written by Richard O'Brien who had also written RHPS. The film features 16 songs by O'Brien, some of which were originally written for RHPS.

Shock Treatment features several of the cast members and characters of the original film but cast in different roles. Most noticeable are the roles of Brad and Janet, originally played by Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon, now played by Cliff de Young and Jessica Harper. O'Brien, Patricia Quinn and Nell Campbell return, but in new roles as manipulative doctors. If the plot of the first film was widely considered abstract, here it is even more so.

The film takes place shortly after Brad and Janet are married and back in their hometown of Denton, which has become a giant television station with every facet of the town a type of TV program. All residents are either stars of a show or audience members. Brad and Janet's romance is on the rocks, so with the help of the game show "Marriage Maze" Brad is imprisoned on the show "Dentonvale", the local mental hospital. Janet is given a taste of show-biz and the station's evil manager (also played by de Young) behind the scenes molds her into his own superstar in an attempt to take her away from Brad. Two well-wishers whose show had been snubbed by the station manager (Betty Hapschatt, a minor role in RHPS and her new lover, played by Charles Gray) help Brad break free, confront his nemesis/estranged brother and help him steal Janet back.

Fans of the original film did not respond well to "Shock Treatment." They complained of the fact that the two main characters being carried over were played by totally different actors who did not resemble the originals. The songs from "Shock Treatment" were also written simply to be entertaining rather than to forward the plot. The premise of the movie (the town as one large TV studio) was viewed as too absurd for some.

External link