(Thanks, FirstLookStudios!) 

I’d bet anyone reading this who has held any sort of job where they felt (or feel) underutilized, under appreciated or have been passed over for some sort of award or reward has felt that certain twinge deep in the back of their minds. You want revenge for that wrong done to you and for the briefest of moments, a flash of some sort of violent or not so violent payback pops into your head and is gone like the wind before you can dwell on it. Or (in real life) you just make the rest of the day a complete pout-fest until you can slog it on home and bury your sorrows in a quart of Cherry Garcia with a few shots of Disaronno for good measure.

Well, dear reader, drop that spoon and stumble over here for a spell. I’ve got your back here. A Shock to the System is your movie selection for this evening. Director Jan Egleson’s great little 1990 black comedy is a showcase for Michael Caine’s laid back, brooding and maliciously dry portrayal of Graham Marshall, a NYC ad executive with time (and a few people) to kill after he’s passed over for a promotion. Oh, it’s not as grim as it sounds, ladies and gents. In fact, I bet this film will give a few of you all the wrong ideas…

Poor Graham not only has to deal with the insult of being overlooked for a younger up and comer (who’s bit of a jerk, by the way). At home in Connecticut, his overbearing wife (Swoosie Kurtz) has been hounding him about not wanting to make anything better of himself and constantly bashing him for his not wanting to take initiative. Our man has a bit of a shocking home repair accident that doesn’t kill him, but makes him stronger, and faster that you can say “Next Stop, Willoughby!”, Mr. Marshall is seeing things in a different light. Shortly afterward, Graham is accosted by an aggressive panhandler while waiting for a subway and in trying to get the man away from him, accidentally pushes him in front of an arriving subway. When the subsequent investigation clears him, he gets the idea to take up a new hobby: clearing the path to the top of the corporation by eliminating anyone in his path.

This may sound grim, but again, it works because of Caine’s methodical delivery and execution of his formerly troublesome foes. Marshall eventually meets a pretty young secretary (Elizabeth Perkins) and although they become fast friends, there’s still a chance that he may see her as a potential threat once a Connecticut detective pops up and starts poking around. As things get hairier for Graham, the film plays with the viewer in a manner similar to Elio Petri’s 1970 drama Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion where clues keep pointing to the guilty man, but the police seem too inept or gullible to place the murderer into custody. Here, you’ll laugh a lot more at what transpires because the film never feels grim or ghastly and in a way, Graham Marshall is speaking up for the little guy.

The film keeps you constantly wondering whether Marshall’s going down or going to get clean away and don’t be surprised if you find yourself cheering him on in his little crusade, even if you don’t agree with his dangerous methods of “waste disposal”. Then again this is one of those little films that works because it’s pure escapism anyone can sink their teeth into. Unless of course, you’re that boss or other person everyone loves to hate at your job. Then this flick becomes more of an educational tool and warning at the same time….