Despite the almost universal thumbs-down on this movie from professional critics, I think that thriller fans will find it reasonably entertaining. Admittedly, the movie has faults, but I don't blame the script so much as the direction. True, the plot strands and twists are very familiar. Indeed, "hackneyed" might be a better term. And some of the dialog doesn't ring true. But all told, I think Boehm has penned a reasonably exciting and suspenseful script, peopled with reasonably interesting characters and moving at a fairly fast pace. Unfortunately, the script's effectiveness has been whittled down by slack and inefficient direction. Worse still, the version I saw was at times almost impossible to follow due to jump cuts and lack of continuity. And where it is not glaringly inept, the direction is at best routine. Lauren Bacall has a role in which she would seem to be ideally cast, but she muffs it and is content to walk though the film just reciting her lines. Her close-ups are a disaster. She looks haggard. Whitman plays the hero with his customary competence, but the real acting high points are left to Roddy McDowall. Ossie Davis is also a stand-out. Carol Lynley is effective in a typical role.
Review of Shock Treatment
