Brimstone and Treacle (1982)

A second filmed version of Dennis Potter’s controversial TV Play that was made six years after the Play for Today (1976) version but released before it.
Sting plays the stranger and provides much of the music. I’d not have thought his musical style well-suited to the story but it’s genuinely complementary at times. His methods for ingratiating himself to the father (again played by Denholm Elliott) aren't particularly believable, but it was important to show the transparent nature of the ruse and the casual way he went about it. He’s a little like Kubrick’s version of Alex DeLarge.
It might look like a kitchen sink drama on the surface, but the dark, sinister turns in the story are shown without reservation; it’s uncomfortable viewing.

3½ fainting feigns out of 5