Brimstone and Treacle

Description

Rock superstar Sting "exudes a gleaming, evil eroticism" (Playboy) in this sinister psychological thriller that is so wickedly perverse, its original production was banned from broadcast on the BBC! Co-starring OscarÂ(r) nominees* Denholm Elliott and Joan Plowright, Brimstone & Treacle delivers a "devastating combination [of] black humor and titillations of terror" (The Hollywood Reporter)! A charming but mysterious man named Martin (Sting) convinces a couple that he is an old boyfriend of their daughter's, now bedridden and unable to speak. Though the husband is suspicious of him, the wife is happy to have someone help her care for her invalid daughter. But as Martin's true motives are revealed, so too is a frightening family secret one that could tear this family apart! *Elliot: Supporting Actor, A Room with a View (1986); Plowright: Supporting Actress, Enchanted April (1992)

Customer Reviews:

Very under-rated film that deserves more attention.......2007-07-06

To quote a review I remember reading when this film came out, "Never have nice manners seemed so menacing." This is a creepy film - without doubt. Some people will definitely be freaked out by some of the subject manner. However, nothing is quite as it seems in this movie.

Sting does a damn fine job of acting here. I don't think anyone other than Sting could have done justice to the lead role, except perhaps a young Malcolm McDowell. The script by Dennis Potter is very smart too. I won't summarize the plot as others have already done so.

What I like is all the questions that pop up in your head that the film refuses to answer. Is Martin just the father's personal demon? His guilty conscience personified? Is Martin good or evil? Is he neither?

This film deserves much more attention than it got. It was on video tape only briefly in the U.S. and was unavailble for more than a decade.

Thankfully, this DVD came along. A good weird little film for when you are in a slightly strange mood.

classic Sting from way back when.......2006-10-11

At the height of The Police's rise to stardom, Sting decided he wanted to act. I'm not sure if he's acting here, but it's a great film for sure. Actually, the perfect role for Sting. Denholm Elliott is superb, and Joan Plowright is well...Joan Plowright - what can you say, she's an amazing person. Sting managed to get the other Policemen into a studio and cut a couple of tracks for the soundtrack, and did the rest of the score himself. I was so happy when this came out on DVD, my original home-recorded VHS copy of this movie was about to fall apart.

"What she needs is love...lots of it!".......2005-12-25

I saw this when it was fresh on video and it is WEIRD. Like TRACK 29 by Nicolas Roeg is weird. I liked both films. This one has 2 heavyweights of the British theater, Denholm Elliot and Joan Plowright, and a thoroughly convincing STING as ...what? An evil sprite? The devil himself? watch it and try to come to your own conclusion; that is the pleasure of this odd little gem.

Something else..........2005-03-26

...that's for sure! You really have to be in a certain mood to watch this "peculiar" movie. Sting as the Devil himself, well as a big fan I must say that the man never stops to surprise me. I really liked him in The Grotesque (with Alan Bates) as well. He always acts to be very different from the sophisticated music-performer he is and is most famous for -so it is kind of funny to see him in these kind of "crazy" roles. Yes, the acting in "Brimstone..." is very good indeed -the story, well, different. Original, and sometimes funny -other times it just makes you sick. All I can say is; looking for an alternate movie-experience with a different "twist" then this might be what you're looking for..? I've seen it twice, and I don't regret it!

WEIRDLY DISTURBING.......2003-09-16

Once banned on the BBC, BRIMSTONE AND TREACLE (MGM) stars Sting as Martin Taylor, a charismatic, mysterious figure who insinuates himself into the household of the Bates. Tom Bates (Denholm Elliot) writes religious literature, his wife Norma (Joan Plowright) spends her time caring for their disabled, mute, daughter. Martin doesn't know the family, but convinces the Bates that he's an old friend of their daughter and moves in to do his thing. Is Martin a demon or an angel? See what happens when the daughter recovers her speech.

Average customer rating:

Very under-rated film that deserves more attention
classic Sting from way back when
"What she needs is love...lots of it!"
Something else...
WEIRDLY DISTURBING

Brimstone & Treacle [Region 2]
Starring: Sting , Denholm Elliott , Joan Plowright , Suzanna Hamilton , and Benjamin Whitrow
Director: Richard Loncraine
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00004CZOB

Customer Reviews:

Very under-rated film that deserves more attention.......2007-07-06

classic Sting from way back when.......2006-10-11

"What she needs is love...lots of it!".......2005-12-25

Something else..........2005-03-26

WEIRDLY DISTURBING.......2003-09-16

Play for Today {Brimstone and Treacle} [Region 2]

Average customer rating:

Play for Today {Brimstone and Treacle} [Region 2]
Starring: Denholm Elliott , Michael Kitchen , Patricia Lawrence , Michelle Newell , and Paul Williamson
Director: Barry Davis
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0001P1BA2

DVD:

DVD

DVD