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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 Oscar?(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)

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ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01M748DQK

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107 ratings

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3 star		9%
2 star		6%
1 star		4%

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Top reviews from Canada

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MadameC

Four Stars

Reviewed in Canada on March 12, 2016

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It is a nice movie.

Reviewed in Canada on March 17, 2015

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Awesome !

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Raegan Butcher

"What she needs is love...lots of it!"

Reviewed in Canada on August 11, 2006

I saw this when it was fresh on video and it is weird. Like TRACK 29 by Nicolas Roeg is weird. Both films have screenplays by the irrepressibly strange (God bless him) Dennis Potter; This one has 2 heavyweights of the British stage, 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.

Richard Loncraine has style to burn and he fills the screen with expertly crafted compositions and he has a nice tendency to use slightly wide-angle lenses to make everyday objects take on a malevolent aspect; he knows how to shoot STING, in order to make him look sinister, that is for sure. Bravo.

Over the years i have shown this to many, many different people and it always captivates them and holds their attention from the first frame to the last. i would have to say this is my favorite of anything Dennis Potter has written to hit the cinema screens, ever. Course, that's not saying much. He is a difficult artist do do justice to, but BRIMSTONE & TREACLE delivers the goods. In spades. Its darkly funny and also thoroughly squirm-inducing in places. The acting is all first rate; Denholm Elliot is magnificent as the repressed and domineering husband; he projects a marvelous snse of twitchy hostility and discomfort; watching him agonize is one of the films strange pleasures. And Sting is fantastic. I think a lot of people here on the IMDb are being unfair to him because of his pop stardom, but I think he delivers an excellent performance, full of sly menace and sinister charm. I think he should be commended for playing such a morally dubious character, and so well! So, kudos to Mr Gordon Sumner! And what can I say about Joan Plowright except that every time I look into her eyes I fall in love! She is such a gifted actress that she simply becomes her character; sad, sweet, ultimately optimistic--in short, the archetypal Mother. Good stuff, indeed.

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Sara

Dark film, interesting story, and great music.

Reviewed in Canada on January 5, 2002

Tom Bates (Denholm Elliot) is a writer who pens little religious sentiments for things like greeting cards and hymns. His wife, Norma (Joan Plowright), is a kind and longsuffering woman who spends countless hours looking after their daughter, Patricia (Suzanna Hamilton), who is disabled. After what was thought to be a freak car-pedestrian accident, Patricia needs round-the-clock care. She cannot speak, cannot dress or bathe herself, cannot feed herself and cannot even seem to be cognizant of the daily events going on around her. Tom is convinced that Patricia is mentally 'gone' from them forever and she cannot understand anything said about her. Norma, on the other hand, is full of faith that Patricia can hear and understand everything. One day, everything changes. Tom, the disillusioned-with-faith writer of psalms, bumps into Martin Taylor (Sting). Martin claims to have been not just a friend of Patricia's from school, but a boyfriend who loved her enough to ask her to marry him. Tom is naturally suspicious of him, both because he fears Martin might be a con-man and because he is afraid Martin might shed some light on the reasons why Patricia had her accident in the first place. Martin finds out where the Bates family lives and drops in. Norma takes an instant liking to him and persuades Tom to let him stay with them. He and Tom have a number of minor battles but he continually bolsters his image with Norma. He seems to share her faith that God has something miraculous planned for Patricia and he even begins calling Norma "Mumsy." ... The climax of the film arrives late one night when Martin moves in on Patricia. His terrible treatment of her awakens something within her and suddenly she remembers the wicked event that caused her sickness in the first place. Martin flees but the viewer is left with the knowledge that Patricia will tell all and the situation will be made right at last.
There is certainly room for speculation, particularly with the title that the film has, that the author is trying to suggest that Martin Taylor's role is not entirely evil yet not entirely good either. Rather than painting him as a demon or an angel, he is more of a character who simply sheds light on things. I consider this to be one of Sting's best film performances if not *the* best, out of his rather lackluster (and I say that with sadness, because I am a fan) movie career. I would recommend this movie to any Sting fan or any follower of Denholm Elliot's career, anyone who enjoys dark and/or indie films and definitely anyone who enjoys trying to crack a good mystery.

Reviewed in Canada on February 2, 1999

33. BRIMSTONE AND TREACLE (thriller-drama, 1982) Martin (Sting) befriends middle-aged bookkeeper Tom (Denholm Elliott). Martin cons his way into his house by passing himself as his daughter's, Patricia (Suzana Hamilton), ex-boyfriend. Patricia has been left a mute and bedridden for 3 years after a car accident. Tom's wife Nora (Joan Plowright) is very religious and Martin's 'gospely' kindness and loyalty to Patricia impress her. Though Tom is suspicious of Martin's exact motives he nonetheless stays to take care of Patricia. What they don't know is that Martin is sexually abusing their defenseless daughter.
Critique: Part fairy tale, part religious parable, this creepy, atmospheric film is highlighted by a wickedly perverse turn by Sting (lead singer of rock group 'The Police'). What makes his character such a bizarre figure is that his motives are unknown, his appetites unresolved. I think Martin is just a thief, passing himself as anyone's friend just to have a place to stay. A sort of pickpocket. He's also a sexual deviant who doesn't mind how he gets it, either from an invalid or an old woman. The film portrays him as an avenging angel-type brought into Tom's household to uncover some truths. Interesting direction by Richard Loncraine (is this his film debut?) who works from a play adapted by Dennis Potter (who's own sexually dubious works are to be questioned). 'The Police', along with 'The Go-Gos' provided the music.

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Top reviews from other countries

Paul

Good movie

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 30, 2021

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I watched this on Prime and decided to get a copy for my video library.

G.L.E.P.

Quite well acted.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 30, 2020

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Didn't like this very much. Found it rather creepy.

One person found this helpful

jackie livesey

Excellent quality and value for money

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 24, 2020

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The DVD arrived in 3 days of ordering. The quality of both the packaging and the film itself was excellent

Robin D. Forrest

Great story...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2013

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One of Dennis Potters best stories turned into an enjoyable film, which to be honest I only went to see (way back when) because Sting was in it and I was a huge Police fan. Denholm Elliot and Joan Plowright shine in a creepy tale of lust, guilt and the supernatural. Sting is, er, less good but has moments. A film ripe for remake methinks...

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EAP of B

Good drama

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 20, 2020

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Very good drama. Bit disturbing in places. But enjoyed it.

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