{"id":86377,"date":"2022-08-19T23:33:38","date_gmt":"2022-08-20T06:33:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=86377"},"modified":"2024-02-10T01:35:43","modified_gmt":"2024-02-10T08:35:43","slug":"brimstone-and-treacle-1982","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=86377","title":{"rendered":"Brimstone and Treacle (1982)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I no longer accept there&#8217;s such a thing as a loving God, Norma.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Poster-190x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"190\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-86378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Poster-190x300.png 190w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Poster-81x128.png 81w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Poster-171x270.png 171w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Poster.png 443w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 190px) 100vw, 190px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen a handsome young stranger (Sting) manipulates himself into the house of an atheist (Denholm Elliott) and his religious wife (Joan Plowright), he soon takes advantage of their disabled daughter (Suzanna Hamilton), all the while pretending to be her former lover.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Con-Artists<\/li>\n<li>Denholm Elliott Films<\/li>\n<li>Disabilities<\/li>\n<li>Grown Children<\/li>\n<li>Marital Problems<\/li>\n<li>Psychopaths<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary refers to this odd flick &#8212; a cinematic adaptation of what was originally a 1976 BBC television play by Dennis Potter &#8212; as an &#8220;unusual, often unpleasant film&#8221; filled with &#8220;first-rate&#8221; acting (including &#8220;Sting&#8217;s best performance&#8221;), and &#8220;a good script, full of intriguing scenes.&#8221; He points out that the &#8220;most intriguing aspect of [the] film is that we can&#8217;t figure out Sting&#8217;s motives.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Sting-Plowright2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Sting-Plowright2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1011\" height=\"725\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-86388\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Sting-Plowright2.png 1011w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Sting-Plowright2-300x215.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Sting-Plowright2-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Sting-Plowright2-768x551.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Sting-Plowright2-377x270.png 377w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1011px) 100vw, 1011px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As Peary asks, &#8220;Is he truly religious? Has he been dispatched by God or the devil? Is he trying to help the girl? Is he trying to destroy the family? Or is he trying to put the house in order? Is he trying to become master of the house?&#8221; All are reasonable hypotheses, and one is left truly uncertain throughout &#8212; especially given &#8220;interesting direction by Richard Loncraine&#8221; which occasionally turns experimental for no apparent reason other than to remind us we really don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s going on, or why. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Running.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Running.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"985\" height=\"729\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-86386\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Running.png 985w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Running-300x222.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Running-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Running-768x568.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Running-365x270.png 365w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 985px) 100vw, 985px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Oddly enough, it&#8217;s this ambiguity which keeps us watching, as we wonder whether the film will turn out to be fantastical or simply a tale of a sinister sociopath wreaking havoc on a broken family. The fine performances and unusual storyline make this unnerving film worth at least a one-time look &#8212; but be prepared to get creeped out. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Sting as Martin Taylor<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-Treacle-Sting-Girl-Feeding.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-Treacle-Sting-Girl-Feeding.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"991\" height=\"727\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-86384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-Treacle-Sting-Girl-Feeding.png 991w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-Treacle-Sting-Girl-Feeding-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-Treacle-Sting-Girl-Feeding-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-Treacle-Sting-Girl-Feeding-768x563.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-Treacle-Sting-Girl-Feeding-368x270.png 368w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 991px\" \/><\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>Denholm Elliott as Tom Bates<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Elliott.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Elliott-1024x683.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-86382\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Elliott-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Elliott-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Elliott-128x85.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Elliott-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Elliott-405x270.png 405w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Elliott.png 1081w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Joan Plowright as Normal Bates<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Plowright.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Plowright.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1003\" height=\"725\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-86383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Plowright.png 1003w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Plowright-300x217.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Plowright-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Plowright-768x555.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Plowright-374x270.png 374w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1003px) 100vw, 1003px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Peter Hannan&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Sting.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Sting.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1005\" height=\"699\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-86381\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Sting.png 1005w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Sting-300x209.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Sting-128x89.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Sting-768x534.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Brimstone-and-Treacle-Sting-388x270.png 388w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1005px) 100vw, 1005px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Michael Nyman&#8217;s score (along with music by The Police)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as an intriguing outing and for the fine performances. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Good Show<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0083693\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1982\/11\/11\/movies\/brimstone-and-treacle.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=133\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/brimstone-and-treacle\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I no longer accept there&#8217;s such a thing as a loving God, Norma.&#8221; Synopsis: When a handsome young stranger (Sting) manipulates himself into the house of an atheist (Denholm Elliott) and his religious wife (Joan Plowright), he soon takes advantage of their disabled daughter (Suzanna Hamilton), all the while pretending to be her former lover. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Con-Artists Denholm Elliott Films Disabilities Grown Children Marital Problems Psychopaths Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: Peary refers to this odd flick&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=86377\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-86377","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86377","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=86377"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86377\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":95482,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86377\/revisions\/95482"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=86377"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=86377"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=86377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}