Shock to the System 2006

Albany private investigator Donald Strachey finds himself in a perplexing case when he meets a nervous client, Paul Hale, in a shadowy alley. Just as Paul hands over a $5,000 retainer check, an alarming van speeds towards them, separating the two. Tragically, the following night, Paul is discovered dead under suspicious circumstances. The coroner and Detective Bailey deem it a suicide, citing evidence of alcohol and drugs found at the scene, but both Donald and Paul’s mother, Phyllis Hale, suspect foul play. Phyllis is particularly adamant that her son was murdered, driving Strachey to uncover the truth behind Paul’s untimely demise.

As he begins his investigation, Donald mistakenly confronts Kenny Kwon, a former employee he reluctantly decides to rehire as his new office manager. Meanwhile, Donald’s boyfriend, Timmy Callahan, provides a significant lead: prior to his death, Paul was a spokesperson for the controversial Phoenix Foundation, known for practicing ex-gay conversion therapy. To delve deeper, Strachey adopts the undercover identity of “Kyle” and meets Dr. Trevor Cornell, the Foundation’s director, fabricating a backstory about being a disgraced soldier struggling with his sexuality.

The longer Donald immerses himself in this covert role, the more he grapples with issues surrounding his own gay identity, particularly as he navigates the complex narratives woven by the individuals within the Foundation. When results from an autopsy reveal discrepancies in the drugs found in Paul’s system, Strachey becomes increasingly determined to expose the truth.

In a turning point during his undercover sessions, Donald confronts Cornell, leading to the revelation that Larry Phelps, a friend of Paul’s from college, might also hold vital information. However, as Strachey attempts to connect with Larry, he finds himself in a race against time as the stakes escalate: Larry is murdered before he can provide further details.

Back at the office, the emotional toll of the investigation bears heavily on Donald’s relationship with Timmy, forcing him to confront his own past. In a revealing moment, he confesses the trauma of a prior relationship during his military service, which ended tragically with his lover’s suicide.

Eventually, Trevor Cornell himself is arrested for Larry’s murder due to some dubious evidence. Strachey, believing that Trevor is being set up, enlists help from his wife, Lynn Cornell, to exonerate him. As they dig deeper, they uncover a hidden camera revealing that it was Katie, a member of the conversion therapy group and Paul’s ex-fiancée, who was responsible for the drugging and death of both Paul and Larry, driven by her own misguided motives.

In a tense showdown at the Foundation, Strachey manages to disarm Katie, leading to the truth’s revelation and clearing Cornell’s name. In the end, Donald confronts Phyllis, helping her recognize the destructive impact of her homophobic views on her family. With the case resolved, Strachey can finally close this chapter, having unearthed dark secrets while also reaffirming his commitment to his own identity.