1990·Crime·1h 31m
7.1
★
When experienced advertising executive Graham Marshall loses out on a promotion to a young man, he goes down in a path of vengeance.
Directed by Jan Egleson
new york city
based on novel or book
sailing
lighter
murder
electrocution
advertising executive
advertising agency
madison avenue
corporate ladder
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Michael Caine
Graham Marshall
Elizabeth McGovern
Stella Anderson
Peter Riegert
Robert Benham
Swoosie Kurtz
Leslie Marshall
Will Patton
Lt. Laker
Jenny Wright
Melanie O'Conner
John McMartin
George Brewster
Barbara Baxley
Lillian
Haviland Morris
Tara Liston
Philip Moon
Henry Park
Kent Broadhurst
Executive #1
Zach Grenier
Executive #2
Crew
Jan Egleson
Director
Andrew Klavan
Screenplay
Gary Chang
Original Music Composer
Ady Cohen
Craft Service
Simon Brett
Novel
Alice Arlen
Associate Producer
Popular Reviews
19 reviews
Jagdish
8.9★ · 04/12/25
An atypical revenge thriller that doubles as an excellecent black comedy, A SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM is a 90s gem thanks to Michael Caine’s unhinged, cheeky performance. I watched the remastered version and every frame is delightful.
An atypical revenge thriller that doubles as an excellecent black comedy, A SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM is a 90s gem thanks to Michael Caine’s unhinged, cheeky performance. I watched the remastered version and every frame is delightful.
Kieran
8.0★ · 02/13/25
I have never seen Michael Caine commit to the bit harder than in this film. Ersatz American Psycho for the discerning individual.
I have never seen Michael Caine commit to the bit harder than in this film. Ersatz American Psycho for the discerning individual.
Lestat De Lioncourt
4.0★ · 11/26/24
boring american psycho
boring american psycho
Anna
3.4★ · 11/04/24
cathy and jason (the dogs)
cathy and jason (the dogs)
jamblo
5.0★ · 11/19/22
Michael Caine is an aging (he was 57 at the time) middle-manager, passed over for a long-expected promotion, who feels his life is ebbing away -- until he gets his mojo back by killing a panhandler and not getting caught. Now feeling he is immortal in a way, he sets about offing everyone who's been bothering him.
Based on a 1985 novel (which I’ve not read), this has some similarities with Fay Weldon’s 1983 novel ‘The Life & Loves of a She-Devil’ (the film version of which is pretty terrible) but, in the gender-flip, here the white man starting at a position of, frankly, pretty obvious privilege (despite the voice-over narration’s protestations) avenging perceived wrongs feels, in a word, gross or, in a few more words, really poorly conceived.
The execution is ok (though said voice-over has to carry way too much of the story) and Caine is good (even while his character is pretty repellant) but, ultimately, it is isn’t either funny or entertaining enough to salvage as a product of its time nor it is clever enough to excuse its own moral bankruptcy.
Based on a 1985 novel (which I’ve not read), this has some similarities with Fay Weldon’s 1983 novel ‘The Life & Loves of a She-Devil’ (the film version of which is pretty terrible) but, in the gender-flip, here the white man starting at a position of, frankly, pretty obvious privilege (despite the voice-over narration’s protestations) avenging perceived wrongs feels, in a word, gross or, in a few more words, really poorly conceived.
The execution is ok (though said voice-over has to carry way too much of the story) and Caine is good (even while his character is pretty repellant) but, ultimately, it is isn’t either funny or entertaining enough to salvage as a product of its time nor it is clever enough to excuse its own moral bankruptcy.
Michael Caine is an aging (he was 57 at the time) middle-manager, passed over for a long-expected promotion, who feels his life is ebbing away -- until he gets his mojo back by killing a panhandler and not getting caught. Now feeling he is immortal in a way, he sets about offing everyone who's been bothering him.
Based on a 1985 novel (which I’ve not read), this has some similarities with Fay Weldon’s 1983 novel ‘The Life & Loves of a She-Devil’ (the film version of which is pretty terrible) but, in the gender-flip, here the white man starting at a position of, frankly, pretty obvious privilege (despite the voice-over narration’s protestations) avenging perceived wrongs feels, in a word, gross or, in a few more words, really poorly conceived.
The execution is ok (though said voice-over has to carry way too much of the story) and Caine is good (even while his character is pretty repellant) but, ultimately, it is isn’t either funny or entertaining enough to salvage as a product of its time nor it is clever enough to excuse its own moral bankruptcy.
Based on a 1985 novel (which I’ve not read), this has some similarities with Fay Weldon’s 1983 novel ‘The Life & Loves of a She-Devil’ (the film version of which is pretty terrible) but, in the gender-flip, here the white man starting at a position of, frankly, pretty obvious privilege (despite the voice-over narration’s protestations) avenging perceived wrongs feels, in a word, gross or, in a few more words, really poorly conceived.
The execution is ok (though said voice-over has to carry way too much of the story) and Caine is good (even while his character is pretty repellant) but, ultimately, it is isn’t either funny or entertaining enough to salvage as a product of its time nor it is clever enough to excuse its own moral bankruptcy.