The Debt Collector

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.