This film originated in a play with the same name written in 1976 by Dennis Potter for the TV series 'Play for Today', produced in the U.K. by the BBC. Its theme is straight black Gothic horror, and before the production was aired the BBC decided that it would be too shocking for many of its likely audience, so it was mothballed. Ultimately this TV presentation was not aired until 1987. (I have been told that there was an earlier public release in the form of a stage presentation, but I have been unable to confirm this). Long before this, Dennis Potter rewrote the play for the cinema and the film version was released in 1982. Basically the story is the same, but the film provides a little more fluidity than the play in which the action takes place almost entirely in one room. There is however one important difference, which can be discussed without creating a spoiler as it relates to a scene that Dennis Potter deleted from the play when creating his film script. The cast of the play features a typical suburban middle class family, comprising parents with an adult but paralysed and brain damaged daughter, who receive an unexpected visitor claiming to be a former friend of the daughter. I understand an early scene in the play showed the daughter becoming paralysed by a road accident when she ran out of her home in horror after finding her father having sex with her best friend. This immediately created layers of guilt which were quite significant in the TV play, but which the author decided to minimise in the screen version where the only reference to the accident comes later in the story as part of a dream sequence experienced by the father.
The story evolves around the visitor, Martin - a part played in the film by "Sting"; who was formerly a soloist with "The Police" (the group responsible for most of the sound tracks associated with the film), but who has now established an independent reputation as a film actor. At first Martin provides friendly and helpful support for the family but later, and seemingly innocently, he opens up troubles and problems which had been papered over, and thoroughly disrupts the normal tenure of the family's life. The dialogue is effective sharp and pointed, and the film, which is quite short, rapidly progresses to its final horrendous climax.
Ultimately the message is religious; but whilst the film raises plenty of questions, no solutions are offered. The parents consist of a somewhat disillusioned religious publisher, and his wife who shows a deep but simple faith. Their visitors conversation gradually but increasingly disturbs the faith of both of them, as well as that of the woman's club in the couple's church. In the original play hints were given that the mysterious visitor was Satan himself; but in the case of the film it was, probably wisely, decided to remove these; and by the final climax, the viewer is left - according to personal religious convictions - to conclude that the visitor was Satan himself, an ordinary person possessed by the devil, or a naturally evil person behaving in his natural way. The horror of the film is intensified by the fact that nothing in any way supernatural takes place, we are just observing a segment of ordinary human life. Ultimately this becomes a very rewarding but deeply disturbing film to watch.
Those interested in comparing the film with the original play may wish to note that both may be more readily available in PAL format from the U.K. - its country of origin. DVD's of the film are currently listed there, and I believe that a BBC videotape of the televised play, released following its eventual screening, is also available.
The story evolves around the visitor, Martin - a part played in the film by "Sting"; who was formerly a soloist with "The Police" (the group responsible for most of the sound tracks associated with the film), but who has now established an independent reputation as a film actor. At first Martin provides friendly and helpful support for the family but later, and seemingly innocently, he opens up troubles and problems which had been papered over, and thoroughly disrupts the normal tenure of the family's life. The dialogue is effective sharp and pointed, and the film, which is quite short, rapidly progresses to its final horrendous climax.
Ultimately the message is religious; but whilst the film raises plenty of questions, no solutions are offered. The parents consist of a somewhat disillusioned religious publisher, and his wife who shows a deep but simple faith. Their visitors conversation gradually but increasingly disturbs the faith of both of them, as well as that of the woman's club in the couple's church. In the original play hints were given that the mysterious visitor was Satan himself; but in the case of the film it was, probably wisely, decided to remove these; and by the final climax, the viewer is left - according to personal religious convictions - to conclude that the visitor was Satan himself, an ordinary person possessed by the devil, or a naturally evil person behaving in his natural way. The horror of the film is intensified by the fact that nothing in any way supernatural takes place, we are just observing a segment of ordinary human life. Ultimately this becomes a very rewarding but deeply disturbing film to watch.
Those interested in comparing the film with the original play may wish to note that both may be more readily available in PAL format from the U.K. - its country of origin. DVD's of the film are currently listed there, and I believe that a BBC videotape of the televised play, released following its eventual screening, is also available.