Brilliant allegorical drama from writer Dennis Potter and director Richard Loncraine. It is the fascinating tale of a young man, Martin Taylor (Sting), who -- to quote Denholm Elliott, "may be the Devil himself" -- manipulates his way into the home and trust of an ageing, embittered couple (Elliott and Joan Plowright) who "live in the shadows" after their daughter is injured in an accident and rendered mute. In a suggestion of Taylor's origins, the smarmy slimeball emerges from a church in one early scene and behaves like he's being physically assaulted when the bells begin to toll. Although his actual origins remain ambiguous up until the explosive, surprising climax, Loncraine and Potter have lots of fun keeping us guessing.
The performances of all players are so good they're worthy of awards. It is thoroughly amusing to watch Sting ingratiate himself into Plowright's trust while Elliott fights with his natural distrust of strangers and occasionally blurts out his true feelings through a stiff upper lip. Suzanna Hamilton, as the disabled Patricia, communicates great inner torment and anger with limited resources of expression.
Potter's script, adapted from his play, is simply riveting. His uncanny ability to capture real language, behavior and see-sawing emotions is a joy to behold and draws us into a highly emotional, sometimes surreal drama. A stormy prayer sequence is a standout, as is an economically directed flashback sequence that reveals the cause of everybody's unease. A wicked, very English sexual undercurrent throbs beneath the polite surface of the drama, as does a pitch black vein of humor.
The music (Sting and Michael Nyman) sits perfectly in every scene, embellishing mood and tone, the cinematography of Peter Hannan is moody and striking, and Paul Green's sharp and inventive cutting is terrific.
Outstanding in every department.
The performances of all players are so good they're worthy of awards. It is thoroughly amusing to watch Sting ingratiate himself into Plowright's trust while Elliott fights with his natural distrust of strangers and occasionally blurts out his true feelings through a stiff upper lip. Suzanna Hamilton, as the disabled Patricia, communicates great inner torment and anger with limited resources of expression.
Potter's script, adapted from his play, is simply riveting. His uncanny ability to capture real language, behavior and see-sawing emotions is a joy to behold and draws us into a highly emotional, sometimes surreal drama. A stormy prayer sequence is a standout, as is an economically directed flashback sequence that reveals the cause of everybody's unease. A wicked, very English sexual undercurrent throbs beneath the polite surface of the drama, as does a pitch black vein of humor.
The music (Sting and Michael Nyman) sits perfectly in every scene, embellishing mood and tone, the cinematography of Peter Hannan is moody and striking, and Paul Green's sharp and inventive cutting is terrific.
Outstanding in every department.