Shadey (1985)

A young man discovers that not only does he have the ability to read minds, but that if he holds a camera next to his head he can transmit the thoughts he sees onto film. He strikes a deal ... See full summary »

Director:

Philip Saville

Writer:

Snoo Wilson

Stars:

Antony Sher, Billie Whitelaw, Patrick Macnee

Cast

Credited cast:
Antony Sher	...	Oliver Shadey
Billie Whitelaw	...	Doctor Cloud
Patrick Macnee	...	Sir Cyril Landau
Katherine Helmond	...	Lady Constance Landau
Leslie Ash	...	Carol Landau
Larry Lamb	...	Dick Darnley
Bernard Hepton	...	Captain Amies
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jesse Birdsall	...	Carl
Jon Cartwright	...	Shulman
Stephen Persaud	...	Winston
Olivier Pierre	...	Manson
Jenny Runacre	...	Shop assistant
Jonathan Scott-Taylor	...	Arthur

Storyline

A young man discovers that not only does he have the ability to read minds, but that if he holds a camera next to his head he can transmit the thoughts he sees onto film. He strikes a deal with a wealthy businessman to use his powers but with two conditions: one is that he'll make enough money for a sex-change operation, and the other is that under no circumstances are his powers to be used for military purposes. Things don't work out quite the way he planned.

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Plot Keywords:

money | sex change | castration | gay interest | mechanic | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1986 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Channel Four Films, Larkspur Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

A British cult film still in search of its cult

Auto mechanic Oliver Shadey (Antony Sher) discovers he has the ability to read peoples minds and project those thoughts onto film when he holds a movie camera next to his head. He offers his services to businessman Sir Cyril Landau (Patrick Macnee) under two conditions - he won't work for the military and he wants enough money to afford a sex change operation (!). After Shadey proves his talents, Landau takes him up on the offer but quickly trades him to Dr. Cloud for some real estate. Dr. Cloud is, naturally, working for the British government and Shadey is conflicted. Honestly, this is one of those films where you wonder just exactly how it got made. It is so strikingly original and bizarre. Sher is very good as the odd psychic. Also, 1985 must have been the year Katherine Helmond decided to get all the weird out of her system with her role here as Macnee's insane wife ("You let her eat coal...again!") and her work in BRAZIL. Obviously the producers had no freakin' clue what they had on their hands with SHADEY as the US video box displays a guy in S&M gear surrounded by two sexy women, which has nothing to do with the film at all.