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21 reviews in total

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9 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
A truly disturbing, truly bleak movie, 7 February 2000

Author: Nick Pullar from Auckland, New Zealand

My title isn't to imply that this movie isn't worth seeing. If you can stand the despair, this movie is fantastic.

I found that the words of the Greeks came back to me as I was watching The Debt Collector. "Those whom the gods will destroy, they first make mad". It seemed apt for a modern tragedy in the tradition of Sophocles.

The best technique that Neilson used was lighting. It's rare to have a movie that goes from such brightness to such gloom. The wedding scene, for instance, was as bright and cheerful as you expect such a scene to be, but after Keltie's parting shot, we are outside, in the rain, the dark, the gloom... perfect!

The violence is something that others have commented on. It is so unlike the Hollywood violence that we are accustomed to seeing. This violence is very real, and more shocking and horrifying because of it. All the male lead characters were capable of violence, and it made me wonder how close we all are from such displays.

The Debt Collector is a story of hatred gone to extremes. It spoke to me of how hatred and revenge are empty ideas... and how it is much more important, if difficult to forgive those who have harmed you, and not to live in the past.

This movie is not for everyone, but if you are interested in tragedy, then you should see this film.

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6 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Why everyone should watch Scotland's hidden gem., 30 August 2000

Author: re-veers (veers@net1mail.com) from Glasgow Scotland

The Debt Collector is a brilliant study of one man's attempt to escape his past without fully paying for his sins and one man's obsession which eventually takes over his life. Nicky Dryden (Billy Connelly) is the man with the past, a vicious debt collector. Keltie (Ken Stott) is the cop who ensnares him and puts him away. When Dryden is released he starts to make a name for himself as an artist and marries a beautiful reporter. Keltie cannot bear to see a man like Dryden living a lifestyle like that after all the horror he created. Dryden of course is a reformed man but is haunted by his past. His wife Val (Francesca Annis) seems to be the only one who understands. All Keltie had is his mother (Annette Crosbie) who is starting to suffer from dementia. When Keltie seeks revenge on Dryden on behalf of all his victims it becomes an obsession. Then Flipper (Iain Robertson) a young thug who hero-worships Dryden, becomes the catalyst for tragic events to unfold and nobodies life is untouched. You will never see a more intense study of obsession. The closest film comparison would be TAXI DRIVER, but that is the story of a loner. The men in Debt Collector both have responsibilities toward family and that is the source of the tragedy in the film. The performances are brilliant, Connelly, Stott, Robertson and Annis are perfect, with Stott deserving a special mention for creating one of the most complicated characters in Scottish Screen History. The Direction is tight, Neilson never once showing his TV roots. This is a film well worth seeking out.

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5 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Involving and frightening, but not quite touching., 8 January 2000

Author: Martin Pollard from Caerphilly, Wales

This is an oddity: a British film that doesn't trade on its Britishness, instead relying on its strong plot and themes to carry it along. Billy Connolly's and Ken Stott's performances contrast pleasingly, the former underplaying his hopefully-reformed murderer, and the latter foaming at the mouth with the sheer excesses of his anger.

The film touches on themes of forgiveness, justice and obsession, but lays no claim to easy solutions, instead trying its hardest to give a hard time to all involved. Forgive but don't forget would seem to be the message.

Unfortunately, its fast pace sometimes swamps opportunities for true character development. At times saddening, at others horrifically disturbing, The Debt Collector never manages to build enough empathy to be truly touching.

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2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Well Done,Billy, 1 November 2000
Author: zenya from Perth, Australia

I have just seen this movie and thought I should make a comment on it. The performances by Billy Connolly and Ken Stott deserve accolades,Connolly is just as good as he was in Mrs.Brown,playing a man who after spending years in jail is determined to go straight. Newcomer Iain Robertson also gives a very good performance as a gangster wannabee. This film is a must see movie for Connolly fans,and just for people who like to watch a good quality movie.

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3 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Powerhouse performances from the main actors, 20 November 2000
Author: Lemos from London, Home Counties, South East

Ken Stott who is the policeman who just keeps on hounding Billy Connolly an ex-con, even after the latter has served his sentence, puts in a really brilliant performance. Francesca Annis as Connolly's wife is very good as well. Well paced and riveting throughout this film is well worth seeing when one is sick of all the bang-wham of the big American movies.

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3 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
A film that is difficult to watch., 5 July 2000

Author: John Taylor (jdtaylor@btinternet.com) from Bedfordshire, England

This a gritty , violent movie that i found quite hard to watch. Not because of the gritty nature of the film but because it was extremely depressing , so much so it spoilt the film . The film is about a ex debt collector(Billy Connolly) who has done his time for murder and the Policeman (Kenn Stott) who sent him down , who cannot still find it in himself to forgive him for the terrible things he did even though he was a changed man. I found it hard to understand why the Cop took it so personally . The language is about as blue as i have ever heard in a film and the violence is pretty bad too. One thing is for sure , the scottish tourist board will not be using this film to promote their capital city! Check out the actor who plays flipper, he looks like he fell out of the ugly tree hitting every branch on the way down. 6 out of 10.

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3 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Powerful if bleak view of human nature, 27 November 1999

Author: almagill

An excellent film, though what a bleak view of human nature. Connolly's character is trying to live a good life and the psychotic policeman is determined that it won't happen.

Real Shakespearian tragedy, the wilful misunderstanding of the others characters motives by virtually everyone in the film made the outcome inevitable. The fight in Edinburgh Castle was a wee bit on the unbelievable side, but definitely fitted into the dramatic tradition.

At the end you were left wondering who had actually benefited from the whole sordid mess?

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1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Raw. Dynamic, Good British Film Making, 20 March 2009

Author: Andy Croft from Australia

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I rated this film a 6 due to the fact I only seen it ten years after its release. I had read the reviews and expected a lot more than the film delivered. If I had not read the glowing reviews I would have probably would have rated it higher. The raw story of a reformed former debt collector (Billy Connolly) and obsessive police officer(Ken Stott)who wants to give the now successful former villain a hard time. He pushes the boundaries of the law and events happen due to his obsession. Then you get the villain worshiping teenager who idolizes the former gangster(Connolly). He wants to prove himself and make a name for himself. As you may expect the end to the wannabe gangster is inevitable. There is some good hardcore violence scenes in this movie which could have been worked more. Connolly and Stott play two excellent roles and the casting is well suited for the characters.

This movie is without a doubt worth a watch if you like the Lock Stock violent type of movie.

It is a raw film but for me I would of liked to see more of the rawness come through.

Give it a go. Especially now it is in the weekly section of the Video store.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
First class thriller, 15 January 2006

Author: Drifteral99 from United Kingdom

I really enjoyed this movie. The acting was excellent throughout and the storyline gritty and lifelike. This is life at the raw end of the spectrum. The violence was visceral and essential to the plot. Some good sights of Edinburgh and the iconic Forth Rail Bridge.

A tale of a violent man struggling to shake off his past, though it seems far behind him. When a contemporary from that past makes it all the more difficult to forget the haunting truth of 'another' life. Nick Dryden ,convicted gangster and man of violence emerges from prison a respected sculptor and marries a middle class journalist.

Francesca Annis for me took the acting honours though all the male roles were almost equally well performed.Stott and Connolly both excel.

As someone said already 'a debt well worth collecting', see it soon if you haven't already

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1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Recommended!... This movie has heart and soul, though not all angelic., 8 September 2005

Author: Kifaru-2 from Australia

This is a clever movie. Investigators try to get into the mind of a criminal and become them. That takes obsession, but what happens when obsession takes you? It's a fact of life that most people would like to be the tough, bad guy and this seems to be where this movie gets it's ideas. A life time on stage has prepared Connolly well. His performance is admirable. Admittedly, it's been about 3 years since I seen this film as I write this, though I remember strong feelings associated with it. There's something very real about it. I don't want to spoil this for anyone thinking of watching it, so I'll just say the "assualt" scene is particularly real and horrifically scary, as is the fight scene. No stupid Hollywood sound effects added to this one, and that's what makes it so damn scary because it doesn't seem as though it's just an act. If you like Connolly, check it out. If you like a thriller, same deal. If you like movies at all, there's no reason not to have a peek.

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