Crime,Comedy,Drama,Thriller
United States of America
A Shock to the System is a 1990 American black comedy thriller film directed by Jan Egleson and starring Michael Caine, Elizabeth McGovern, and Peter Riegert. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Simon Brett.
The story revolves around Graham Marshall (Michael Caine), a successful advertising executive who has dedicated his life to his job, hoping for a promotion that never comes. His life at home is equally frustrating, as his wife is constantly nagging him about his financial situation.
One day, after losing out on a promotion to a younger colleague, Graham becomes irate and impulsively pushes a panhandler in front of a subway train, killing him. Rather than feeling remorse over his actions, Graham sees the accidental death as a way to solve all his problems.
He starts by getting rid of his wife, arranging for her to have a fatal accident. He then turns his attention to his boss, who he sees as the source of his frustration at work. With the help of a scheming secretary (played by McGovern), Graham plots his boss's downfall and secures the promotion he's always wanted.
However, a persistent police detective (played by Riegert) starts to put the pieces together, and Graham's carefully constructed life starts to unravel.
A Shock to the System is a darkly comic tale of one man's descent into madness and murder. Michael Caine delivers a chilling performance as a man driven to commit terrible acts in pursuit of personal success. The film is well-paced and features a great supporting cast, making it a must-watch for fans of thriller and black comedy.
