Brimstone & Treacle

This film was never around much at the time of it's release dispite some good word of mouth. It is pretty well brought off in every way, but leaves one feeling one has seen a rather more obvious version of Pinter with then trendy rock and an even more pronouced lack of point.

Sting holds his own surprisingly well with his classy co-stars.. It's Potter's heavy handed irony, admittedly popular, that just tires you out.

British middle-agers with a handicapped daughter invite into their home a strange young man who holds a curious power over the family. Sting (vocalist and bassist with The Police) gives a commendable performance--his first lead--in this Dennis Potter concoction based upon the writer's own play (originally taped--and banned--by the BBC). Writing like a mischievous child, and aiming for lofty subtext and ironic turns of the screw, Potter doesn't always get the affects he's aiming for, but neither does he disappoint. Director Richard Loncraine doesn't struggle too noticeably getting this peculiar material off the dime (and out from the main set), while his build-up to the foregone conclusion is rife with interesting, twisted bits of business. Not a barn-burner by any means, but a handsome, calculated work in a minor, if derivative key. **1/2 from ****

Polite, mannered drifter Martin Taylor (Sting) charms his way into the home of Thomas Bates (Denholm Elliott), an outwardly upright publisher of religious text, his simple-minded, devout wife Norma (Joan Plowright) and their catatonic daughter Patricia (Suzanna Hamilton), whom he claims to know. Martin is allowed to stay in the home for a couple of days, cooks, cleans, "cares" for the daughter and tries to help the couple through their marital problems, but he's also the catalyst that forces some dark secrets out of the family closet.

Sting's character will either annoy or fascinate you as he exists solely as an enigma, representing angel or demon, or possibly both. Originally a play, this film never quite escapes the stage, but that only feeds into the claustrophobia of the stuffy household and guilt-ridden, lonely characters who inhabit it, and, all in all, it's an intriguing allegory on the nature of good and evil that has a lot to offer, including potent religious imagery, a knockout nightmare/fantasy sequence and a good score (plus songs by The Police) all driven home by excellent performances by the three leads and assured direction by Richard Loncraine.

Dennis Potter's script was previously filmed in 1976 for BBC (that version also starred the great Denholm Elliott).

Sting has, throughout his career, been involved in indie filmmaking. This was his second outing on film, his first being "Quadrophenia" by The Who.

With a passion towards dark humor, Sting involved himself in this remake of the teleplay that had also starred Denholm Elliot as Mr. Bates back in 1976.

"Brimstone and Treacle" is a modern gothic tale about the evil that men do and the price that must be paid to make things right. Also about how the actions of evil can still bring about an unintentional good.

The film also included an incredibly cool soundtrack of songs by The Go-Go's ("We've Got The Beat"), Squeeze ("Up The Junction"), The Police("How Stupid Mr Bates", "Only You", "A Kind of Loving" and "I Burn For You" and more...)and an irreverently stylish 1930's little diddy called "Spread A Little Happiness", was performed by Sting alone.

The song "I Burn For You" performed by The Police, unlike the later incarnation performed by Sting during his solo years, this original version has an almost funeral durge feel to it and adds to the dreamlike, if not nightmarish, quality of the film. This is not unlike the several other songs by The Police that make up most of the "Brimstone and Treacle" soundtrack.

If you have or have not seen the film, people who like the songs of The Police or just like the music from the 1980's, the film's soundtrack is something that should be added to your collection. And I do believe it is still available.

Perhaps the build-up of so many people telling me to check out Sting's movies for years may have raised the stakes a bit too high. I have only seen his villainous role in David Lynch's Dune and also watched bits and pieces of Brimstone and Treacle long time back. The prayer sequence never left my subconscious and it stayed with me including the soundtrack. I slept on this for years and finally got to watch this creepy BBC film during the lockdown. This is a film adaptation of Dennis Potter's controversial play and was banned from screen for many years. The story is provocative starring Sting as a diabolical con artist who becomes a caretaker for a middle-aged couple's daughter who is in coma. Things take a nasty turn and it just gets weirder, at times somewhat uncomfortable, but above all devilishly intriguing. To be fair, this film is not for everyone. Yet it is a shame not to give this a watch. Also, it boasts of a terrific soundtrack; I'm not a huge fan of Sting/Police but he has done a splendid work to contribute for the score. Overall, a twisted story, full of solid acting performances to complement the dark atmosphere.