

1982·Mystery·1h 27m
7.1
★


A mysterious stranger inserts himself into a troubled family's life, blurring the lines between good and evil as he cares for their disabled daughter.
Directed by Richard Loncraine
home invasion
gothic
house guest
uninvited guest
threat to family
homme fatale

Trailer

IMDB
N/A
Cast

Sting
Martin Taylor

Denholm Elliott
Tom Bates

Joan Plowright
Norma Bates

Suzanna Hamilton
Patricia Bates

Benjamin Whitrow
Businessman

Dudley Sutton
Stroller

Tim Preece
Clergyman

Hugh Walters
Man

Christopher Fairbank
Drunk
Crew

Richard Loncraine
Director

Dennis Potter
Screenplay

Michael Nyman
Original Music Composer

Sting
Original Music Composer

Herbert F. Solow
Producer

Kenith Trodd
Producer

Dennis Potter
Original Story
Popular Reviews
5 reviews
lauren
10.0★ · 04/16/26

god i fucking love you.
god i fucking love you.
okkkkgng
6.0★ · 04/01/26

watched it for the soundtrack
watched it for the soundtrack
Drew
7.0★ · 02/05/26

Afternoon. Home. Sheffield.
Watched on 4K Blu-ray (Vinegar Syndrome).
First Watch.
One of my earliest memories is staying up super late with my mum and dad, and them finding this on the TV thus them ushering me to bed as quick as possible to watch it. Quite understandable why they didn’t let me watch, despite my protests to stay up longer.
Brimstone and Treacle is presented as a fable or allegory of the devil arriving on the doorstep and convincing whoever is at that door that he’s there to do good. And obviously, as soon as we see Sting’s Martin Taylor, we know he’s not there to do good. So proceeds a dark, gritty, seedy and grotesque cataclysm of lies, deception and praying on people who are desperate.
If I’m putting my film hat on, this film is about the concept of truth. Firstly, what you believe in, secondly, what you want to believe in and lastly, the harsh reality of it. Every character here is desperate to achieve something, whether it’s selfish or selfless and in one way or another, they all get what they desire, but not what they deserve. Especially Patricia, who’s disability - which is inadvertently caused by her father, is used and exploited as an excuse by all of our characters to allow themselves to do what’s in their best interests, sinister or pure, never really hers.
It’s a strong subject and it does leave something to be desired. I think the seriousness of the situation isn’t as present as it should be, I wish we could’ve explored Patricia and her disability and the harsher impacts it had on her, more of her fathers torment, more of her mothers guilt.
Absolutely loved how stylist and surreal in places this was. I was expecting more of a gothic horror but what it actually gives is something more akin to Argento’s Susperia - even down to the vivid colour palette.
Obviously the music was absolutely fantastic. My dad is a huge Sting fan and that was passed down to me ten fold. Love the little synths and cuttings up of I Burn for You by The Police.
Afternoon. Home. Sheffield.
Watched on 4K Blu-ray (Vinegar Syndrome).
First Watch.
One of my earliest memories is staying up super late with my mum and dad, and them finding this on the TV thus them ushering me to bed as quick as possible to watch it. Quite understandable why they didn’t let me watch, despite my protests to stay up longer.
Brimstone and Treacle is presented as a fable or allegory of the devil arriving on the doorstep and convincing whoever is at that door that he’s there to do good. And obviously, as soon as we see Sting’s Martin Taylor, we know he’s not there to do good. So proceeds a dark, gritty, seedy and grotesque cataclysm of lies, deception and praying on people who are desperate.
If I’m putting my film hat on, this film is about the concept of truth. Firstly, what you believe in, secondly, what you want to believe in and lastly, the harsh reality of it. Every character here is desperate to achieve something, whether it’s selfish or selfless and in one way or another, they all get what they desire, but not what they deserve. Especially Patricia, who’s disability - which is inadvertently caused by her father, is used and exploited as an excuse by all of our characters to allow themselves to do what’s in their best interests, sinister or pure, never really hers.
It’s a strong subject and it does leave something to be desired. I think the seriousness of the situation isn’t as present as it should be, I wish we could’ve explored Patricia and her disability and the harsher impacts it had on her, more of her fathers torment, more of her mothers guilt.
Absolutely loved how stylist and surreal in places this was. I was expecting more of a gothic horror but what it actually gives is something more akin to Argento’s Susperia - even down to the vivid colour palette.
Obviously the music was absolutely fantastic. My dad is a huge Sting fan and that was passed down to me ten fold. Love the little synths and cuttings up of I Burn for You by The Police.
Koudelka
7.0★ · 09/14/25

He's a monster, but is he also an angel? I think so.
He's a monster, but is he also an angel? I think so.
lauren
9.0★ · 06/27/23

hauntingly perverse. it’s been a while since a film made my body have a reaction, but scenes in which Martin would take advantage of the Bates’ daughter would truly lift the hairs in my neck. brilliant soundtrack, quite possibly one of my favorites, since it quite doesn’t really fit with the film theme, as if it were “ahead of its time”. an absolutely masterpiece i must say…
hauntingly perverse. it’s been a while since a film made my body have a reaction, but scenes in which Martin would take advantage of the Bates’ daughter would truly lift the hairs in my neck. brilliant soundtrack, quite possibly one of my favorites, since it quite doesn’t really fit with the film theme, as if it were “ahead of its time”. an absolutely masterpiece i must say…