A very 80s singer, Anna Bell (a bit of a Kim Wilde figure) is burnt out by the high life.
Anna moves to her country home that she hasn't had a chance to spend much time in. She needs a break. To set the scene, we get treated to one Anna's music videos, which is nice for Michael J. Murphy fans to see him turn his versatile hand to the medium.
She's going to recharge, write some songs and hopefully not bump into the raging mental stalker we see in the opening credits.
She meets a hunky local builder (Matt) who's fixing her fence. His heart goes a-flutter when he sees her posing in the leotard she wears to play the piano.
She's having trouble with her manager who keeps calling her to tell her to get motivated and write songs, so she goes to scream on the beach with the builder - in matching dungarees.
They lock lips amongst the crashing waves. Later they share a shower after he convinces her to stop taking her pills. They become lovers. It's going great.
Soon her "fruity" associate (her choreographer) turns up to keep her on track with the songwriting and to also lust after the handyman. He was outraged the train didn't have a buffet. His campness is only outdone by his hairpiece.
We get treated to a music video. The builder watches it, intently.
She is filmed dancing awkwardly in a deserted nightclub, a beach, in front of a fire and next to a motorbike. It is, again, a marvel of Michael J. Murphy's willingness to take on anything regardless of budgetary constraints. It is very amusing and great to see.
She's then choreographing with her friend who is "a confirmed bachelor" - he slips a disc in his back, and his wig is askew.
She says, amusingly, that his back isn't the only thing that has slipped.
Concern is growing that Anna is drinking too much and still hung up on her ex. Speaking of the word hung, another hanger-on turns up, Anna's sister.
We see the stalker rip her posters off the wall., and burn them. Who could it be?
Matt the builder turns up for a dinner party. Anna is lubricated beyond recognition and Matt is in his best suit. It gets awkward. She's struggling mentally, and Matt points out other people have made her like this. He professes his love.
The choreographer, um, choreographs a cocktail party for himself and Matt. He warns him off Anna. But he hasn't counted on Matt. Things escalate. Then they get weird. Much weirder than you expect.
I won't detail the plot further or spoil things but the set up is great. There are few people who will see this film, which is a shame.
I loved it. "Torment" is a fun romp. With a cast recognisable from Michael's other films - who are clearly taking pride in their work - it's a step up from some of his earlier efforts. The concert scene is a riot for fans of 80s budget fare like this. The song "Torment" is a legitimate banger.
And this film is testament to Michael J. Murphy's willingness to try new things and push the envelope of what can be achieved with a low budget and determination.
These films are a joy and if you are thinking of getting the box set of his work, do it. I've had so much enjoyment out of it.
Anna moves to her country home that she hasn't had a chance to spend much time in. She needs a break. To set the scene, we get treated to one Anna's music videos, which is nice for Michael J. Murphy fans to see him turn his versatile hand to the medium.
She's going to recharge, write some songs and hopefully not bump into the raging mental stalker we see in the opening credits.
She meets a hunky local builder (Matt) who's fixing her fence. His heart goes a-flutter when he sees her posing in the leotard she wears to play the piano.
She's having trouble with her manager who keeps calling her to tell her to get motivated and write songs, so she goes to scream on the beach with the builder - in matching dungarees.
They lock lips amongst the crashing waves. Later they share a shower after he convinces her to stop taking her pills. They become lovers. It's going great.
Soon her "fruity" associate (her choreographer) turns up to keep her on track with the songwriting and to also lust after the handyman. He was outraged the train didn't have a buffet. His campness is only outdone by his hairpiece.
We get treated to a music video. The builder watches it, intently.
She is filmed dancing awkwardly in a deserted nightclub, a beach, in front of a fire and next to a motorbike. It is, again, a marvel of Michael J. Murphy's willingness to take on anything regardless of budgetary constraints. It is very amusing and great to see.
She's then choreographing with her friend who is "a confirmed bachelor" - he slips a disc in his back, and his wig is askew.
She says, amusingly, that his back isn't the only thing that has slipped.
Concern is growing that Anna is drinking too much and still hung up on her ex. Speaking of the word hung, another hanger-on turns up, Anna's sister.
We see the stalker rip her posters off the wall., and burn them. Who could it be?
Matt the builder turns up for a dinner party. Anna is lubricated beyond recognition and Matt is in his best suit. It gets awkward. She's struggling mentally, and Matt points out other people have made her like this. He professes his love.
The choreographer, um, choreographs a cocktail party for himself and Matt. He warns him off Anna. But he hasn't counted on Matt. Things escalate. Then they get weird. Much weirder than you expect.
I won't detail the plot further or spoil things but the set up is great. There are few people who will see this film, which is a shame.
I loved it. "Torment" is a fun romp. With a cast recognisable from Michael's other films - who are clearly taking pride in their work - it's a step up from some of his earlier efforts. The concert scene is a riot for fans of 80s budget fare like this. The song "Torment" is a legitimate banger.
And this film is testament to Michael J. Murphy's willingness to try new things and push the envelope of what can be achieved with a low budget and determination.
These films are a joy and if you are thinking of getting the box set of his work, do it. I've had so much enjoyment out of it.
