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Brimstone and Treacle

R 1982 1h 27m Mystery & Thriller List
Tomatometer 2 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Tom Bates (Denholm Elliott) and his wife, Norma (Joan Plowright), are initially overjoyed when a mysterious stranger named Martin (Sting) inserts himself into their lives, proving an enormous help with their domestic chores. They are especially pleased when he takes an interest in their disabled daughter, becoming her de facto caretaker. Gradually, however, they realize that he's not who he seems -- and Martin reveals himself to be a diabolical presence.

Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Brimstone and Treacle performs an unexpected feat, making its startling subject matter into a sigh, not a shriek, of scandal. Rated: 2/4 May 8, 2019 Full Review Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice Brimstone and Treacle explores the strange interface betwen sex and religion. Feb 4, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member I watched this film when I was a teenager in the 80s. I recently watched it for the first time since then. Brimstone and Treacle is not a bad movie. It's not a great movie. Sting succeeds in presenting himself as a slimy con-man with no redeeming qualities, but falls a little short as the devil incarnate that I think the film wants him to be, as the title would have me believe. The best performances belong to Joan Plowright and Denholm Elliot. Elliot's character may well have invited this slime ball into is family's life through his treachery and dirty secrets, but I can't help but imagine that this worked better on stage as it was originally written for, with a gifted actor who could conjur up Satan himself. Again, Sting was not bad, but just imagine what a young Gary Oldman would have done with that role. I get shivers just picturing it. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Superbly scripted, unusual and well-acted, with an excellent soundtrack, parts of this may offend some, but the outcome is so clever, one can't help but be entranced. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member I DARE Jay Leno to miss this movie's opening scene and still understand the movie! Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member Dark and unpleasant. Sting has clearly chosen the right career path with singing. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review bill t Sting made his acting debut in this, may I say, somewhat treacley drama about a shyster who cons his way into a home by saying he's a good friend of the family. He charms up Mom (Joan Plowright) but Dad (Denholm Elliott) is a bit suspicious. Their whole life is centered around their invalid daughter, who Sting immmediately has the hots for. The whole movie is very 80's, with quite the odd soundtrack, a terribly uneven performance by Sting (Plowright and Elliott are surely just doing it for the Sting money), and the script is somewhat daffy (why IS Sting doing what hes doing? Was that ever explained?) Not very good, but alright for the curiousty factor, and it does get a tad creepy towards the end. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Between a 6/10 and 7/10, this is a creepy little macabre thriller. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Brimstone and Treacle

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis Tom Bates (Denholm Elliott) and his wife, Norma (Joan Plowright), are initially overjoyed when a mysterious stranger named Martin (Sting) inserts himself into their lives, proving an enormous help with their domestic chores. They are especially pleased when he takes an interest in their disabled daughter, becoming her de facto caretaker. Gradually, however, they realize that he's not who he seems -- and Martin reveals himself to be a diabolical presence.
Director
Richard Loncraine
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 27m
Sound Mix
Surround