Shock to the System (2006)

A gay detective tries to solve the murder of a college student.

Director:

Ron Oliver

Writer:

Ron McGee

Stars:

Chad Allen, Sebastian Spence, Michael Woods

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chad Allen	...	Donald Strachey
Sebastian Spence	...	Timmy Callahan
Michael Woods	...	Dr. Trevor Cornell
Daryl Shuttleworth	...	Detective Bailey
Morgan Fairchild	...	Phyllis Hale
Anne Marie DeLuise	...	Lynn Cornell
Rikki Gagne	...	Katey Simmons
Stephen Huszar	...	Grey
Nelson Wong	...	Kenny Kwon
Ryan Kennedy	...	Walter
Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman	...	Levon
Shawn Roberts	...	Larry Phelps
Gerry Morton	...	Jefferson Lewis
Morgan Brayton	...	Hannah
Leanne Adachi	...	Dr. Sung

Storyline

Because of a feature article on him in the Advocate, Albany based Donald Strachey has gained some notoriety as a gay private detective. His latest client, Paul Hale, a scared young man, provides Donald with a $5,000 retainer to find "someone", that person unspecified before Paul is scared off. Soon thereafter, Paul is found dead. The official cause of death is deemed suicide by the coroner's office, but Donald wants to do right by Paul by finding who killed him as the police unofficially believe he was murdered. Another person who believes Paul was murdered is his mother, Phyllis Hale. Donald learns that homophobic Mrs. Hale sent Paul to the Phoenix Foundation, run by Dr. Trevor Cornell and his wife Lynn Cornell and for which Paul was the poster child. The Foundation's raison d'etre is repairative therapy i.e. to help people turn from gay to straight. Donald believes Paul's death has something to do with the Foundation, whether it be a connection to one of the Cornells or one of the ...

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Plot Keywords:

gay | murder | gay detective | male full frontal nudity | homosexual | 

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Taglines:

Some Secrets Kill.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexual content, nudity, language and a violent image

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 July 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Forró nyomon

Filming Locations:

Langley Plaza - 20289 56th Ave., Langley, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$2,750 (USA) (4 August 2006)

Gross:

$3,665 (USA) (18 August 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Insight Film Studios, Shavick Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

In the scene where Strachey thinks Kenny is breaking into his office, Strachey is wearing sunglasses. As soon as he busts through the door after Kenny, his glasses are off, and then reappear on his very next shot.

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Connections

Followed by Ice Blues (2008)

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Soundtracks

"Steam"
written by Peter Allen
performed by Peter Allen

User Reviews

Chad Allen is Donald Strachey

This is a well-plotted, superbly cast follow up to the first Donald Strachey film, "Third Man Out." I personally found the subject matter—-sexual "healing" for gays—-more engrossing than the "outing" theme of the first film. Once again, Chad Allen is fascinating as the macho gay detective. And his back story—-he's an ex-soldier who was drummed out of the service for being gay—-more ably serves the screenplay this time around. The regulars all seem more comfortable in their roles, and it's nice to see Nelson Wong returning as Donald's secretary. Morgan Fairchild appears in a rather thankless cameo, and, although Sebastian Spence is a little less ditsy as Donald's lawyer boyfriend (Nora to Allen's Nick), Timmy, Allen's banter with Daryl Shuttleworth, as Detective Bub Bailey, and the other guys at the precinct is more fun. It's a first-class production, with director Ron Oliver making all the right moves, and Allen's acting is nothing short of brilliant: he does Emmy-caliber work in a surprisingly literate script.