Brimstone & Treacle (1982)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Richard Loncraine

Writers:

Dennis Potter (play)
Dennis Potter (screenplay)

Release Date:

12 November 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

An intriguing fantasy of angelic innocence and devilish passion.

Plot:

A strange young man has a sinister effect on the family of a middle-aged writer.

Plot Keywords:

Daughter | Guilt | Invalid | Sex | Remake

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Sting	...	Martin Taylor
Denholm Elliott	...	Tom Bates
Joan Plowright	...	Norma Bates
Suzanna Hamilton	...	Patricia Bates
Benjamin Whitrow	...	Businessman
Dudley Sutton	...	Stroller
Mary MacLeod	...	Valerie Holdsworth
Tim Preece	...	Clergyman
Elizabeth Bradley	...	Woman Passer By
Hugh Walters	...	Man
Christopher Fairbanks	...	Drunk

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | UK:X (original rating) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

Namara Films

Trivia:

According to a recent biography of 'Sting', the role of Taylor had been turned down by both David Bowie and Malcolm McDowell.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Passion: Films, Faith & Fury (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Bless this house

Cult Movies 33

33. BRIMSTONE AND TREACLE (thriller-drama, 1982) Martin (Sting) befriends middle-aged bookkeeper Tom (Denholm Elliott). Martin cons his way into his house by passing himself as friend to his daughter. Daughter Patricia has been left a mute and bedridden for 3 years after a mysterious car accident. Though Tom is suspicious of Martin's exact motives, his wife is beguiled by Martin's charm. But what they don't know is that Martin is sexually abusing their defenseless and disabled daughter.

Critique: Part fairy tale, part religious parable, this creepy, atmospheric film is highlighted by a wickedly perverse turn by Sting (lead singer of rock group 'The Police'). What makes his character such a bizarre figure is that his motives are unknown, his appetites unresolved.

I think Martin is just a thief, passing himself as anyone's friend just to have a place to stay. A sort of pickpocket. He's also a sexual deviant who doesn't mind how he gets it, either from an invalid or an old woman. The film portrays him as an avenging angel-type, brought into this deeply secular home as a purger of sins.

Interesting direction by Richard Loncraine (is this his film debut?) who works from a play adapted by Dennis Potter, whose own sexually dubious works are to be questioned.

'The Police', along with 'The Go-Gos' provided the 'hip' soundtrack.