Brimstone & Treacle backdrop
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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

Cast

Sting
Sting
Martin Taylor
Denholm Elliott
Denholm Elliott
Tom Bates
Joan Plowright
Joan Plowright
Norma Bates
Suzanna Hamilton
Suzanna Hamilton
Patricia Bates
Benjamin Whitrow
Benjamin Whitrow
Businessman
Dudley Sutton
Dudley Sutton
Stroller
Tim Preece
Tim Preece
Clergyman
Hugh Walters
Hugh Walters
Man
Christopher Fairbank
Christopher Fairbank
Drunk

Crew

Richard Loncraine
Richard Loncraine
Director
Dennis Potter
Dennis Potter
Screenplay
Michael Nyman
Michael Nyman
Original Music Composer
Sting
Sting
Original Music Composer
Herbert F. Solow
Herbert F. Solow
Producer
Kenith Trodd
Kenith Trodd
Producer
Dennis Potter
Dennis Potter
Original Story

Popular Reviews

5 reviews
lauren
lauren
Brimstone & Treacle
god i fucking love you.
god i fucking love you.
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okkkkgng
okkkkgng
Brimstone & Treacle
watched it for the soundtrack
watched it for the soundtrack
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Drew
Drew
Brimstone & Treacle
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.
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Koudelka
Koudelka
Brimstone & Treacle
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.
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lauren
lauren
Brimstone & Treacle
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…
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Brimstone & Treacle (1982) | Flick