Shock Treatment

The film opens with the narrator introducing viewers to Farley Flavors, a mysterious TV executive in Denton. Despite his bustling life and success, Farley is haunted by an emptiness and an unreachable woman that he longs for.

Flavors watches over the transformation of Denton as his television studio establishes a new reality show called *Overture*. The citizens, once lively and independent, become entranced spectators, dramatically altering the town's atmosphere.

Amidst the town's excitement, Brad Majors feels conflicted and out of place. His wife, Janet, tries to reassure him that the changes are beneficial, but he struggles to cope with the overwhelming shifts in his hometown.

As audiences gather for the show, local reporter Neely Pritt emerges to extol the virtues of Denton in a segment titled *Denton, U.S.A.*. Her enthusiastic promotion captures the audience's attention and sets the tone for the unfolding events.

Brad and Janet unwittingly become contestants on the game show 'Marriage Maze'. The stakes grow concerning when the quirky host hints at a one-way ticket commitment to the local facility, Dentonvale, amplifying the tension in their relationship.

During the game, host Bert Schnick convinces Janet that committing Brad may restore their marriage. Torn between love and perceived necessity, she reluctantly makes the decision to send him to Dentonvale, leading to the song *Bitchin' in the Kitchen*.

Upon arriving at Dentonvale, Brad faces a cast of eccentric staff members, including Nurse Ansalong and the sinister McKinley siblings. His protests go unheard as Cosmo sedates and confines him in the unsettling 'Terminal Ward'.

Janet's parents are drawn into the chaos of 'Marriage Maze', offered a vacation home in exchange for diagnosing Brad. Their misguided decision to label him as regressing sparks a familial dispute regarding Janet's choice in marriage.

Janet becomes the center of attention at Dentonvale, with the McKinleys eyeing her as 'Miss Mental Health'. Her initial desire to reconnect with Brad quickly becomes overshadowed by the allure of newfound fame, performed in the song *Lullaby*.

News presenters Judge Wright and Betty Hapschatt begin to suspect foul play regarding Flavors and the McKinleys' intentions. Their investigation provokes tension, culminating in their sudden replacement on the news show, further deepening the mystery.

Janet’s rise to fame leads to turbulent personal revelations about her relationship with Brad, illustrated in a dream sequence enriched with the song *Looking for Trade*. The blurring of reality and fantasy leaves her questioning her choices.

Betty manages to uncover the unsettling truth behind Dentonvale, while Judge Wright takes action to free Brad based on his alarming accounts of Flavors' manipulations. Their confrontation leads to a heated showdown punctuated by the dramatic *Duel Duet*.

In a bid for freedom, Brad, Janet, Wright, and Betty hatch a plan to escape Denton's oppressive reality show. They embody their rebellion against manipulation by hotwiring a car and affirming their defiance with the song *Anyhow Anyhow*.

As the group breaks free from Denton's control, the remaining staff of Dentonvale revel in the chaos left in their wake. The conclusion brings a celebration of their twisted fate, encapsulated in *Denton, U.S.A. Reprise*, signifying the collapse of societal expectations.