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On their 4K UHD and Blu-ray, Vinegar Syndrome uses a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. The track delivers clear dialogue for Brimstone & Treacle - crucial for Potter’s sharp, theatrical exchanges - with Sting’s lilting cadence, Denholm Elliott’s gravelly rants, and Joan Plowright’s tremulous pleas standing out distinctly. Ambient sounds, like creaking floorboards or Pattie’s faint breathing, are likely enhanced for clarity without artificial embellishment. The soundtrack, featuring Sting’s ironic "Spread a Little Happiness" and Michael Nyman’s (The Hairdresser's Husband, The Piano, Gattaca, Man with a Movie Camera, Keep It Up Downstairs, Greenaway's Drowning By Numbers, A Zed & Two Noughts, etc.) minimalist score, benefit from the lossless format, offering a fuller dynamic range for the song’s bright melody and the score’s brooding strings. Bass is modest given the transfer, but the mix emphasizes the eerie interplay between music and silence - key to the film’s tension. Pattie’s climactic scream, a pivotal auditory moment, is poised to hit with raw impact. The transfer elevates Brimstone & Treacle's sonic texture for modern systems. Vinegar Syndrome offers optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray and 4K UHD.

The Vinegar Syndrome 4K UHD and Blu-ray offer a new select-scene commentary with Sting and Richard Loncraine. This feature delivers a lively discussion between the lead actor and director, recorded specifically for this release. At over 41 minutes, it’s substantial for a scene-specific track, focusing on the opening non-CGI credit sequences and key moments, like Martin’s introduction and arrival at the house, pre and post the sexual assault scene, and Pattie’s awakening. Sting’s reflections on his film debut and Loncraine’s insights into adapting Potter’s vision provide a mix of anecdotal charm and technical depth. The video extras are relegated to the second-disc Blu-ray. "Trouble Brewing" is a 26-minute interview with Richard Loncraine that offers an in-depth look at the director’s process, covering the challenges of translating Potter’s banned TV play to the screen, working with Sting, and shaping the film’s unsettling tone. Loncraine’s supervision of the 4K restoration has him discussing the preservation of the film’s aesthetic. "A House for the Devil" has production designer Milly Burns for 16 minutes to unpack the creation of the Bates’ suffocating home. Details on how the dated decor and muted colors were chosen to reflect the family’s emotional stasis, enhancing the film’s gothic atmosphere. "Big Visions and Small Screens: Dennis Potter on Film" with Jon Dear and John Williams - this 23-minute featurette with film historians explores Potter’s transition from TV to cinema, situating "Brimstone & Treacle" within his oeuvre ("The Singing Detective," "Pennies from Heaven".) It’s a scholarly bonus that should appeal to cinephiles, dissecting the film’s provocative themes and cultural impact. Lastly is an original trailer and the package has reversible sleeve artwork and an 8-page liner notes booklet with an essay by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas (Rape-Revenge Films: A Critical Study) and artwork.

"Brimstone & Treacle," originally a 1976 television play by Dennis Potter that was banned by the BBC for its controversial content before being adapted into a 1982 film directed by Richard Loncraine, is a deeply unsettling and multifaceted work that defies easy categorization. Starring Sting as Martin Taylor, Denholm Elliott as Tom Bates, Joan Plowright as Norma Bates, and Suzanna Hamilton as Pattie Bates, the film combines elements of dark comedy, psychological drama, and gothic horror to probe the fragility of human morality, the nature of evil, and the veneer of suburban respectability. Below is an in-depth analysis of its themes, characters, narrative structure, and stylistic choices. At its core, "Brimstone & Treacle" examines the interplay between good and evil, often blurring the lines between the two. The film unfolds like a chamber play - evoking Bergman's Autumn Sonata - confined largely to the Bates’ home, which heightens its claustrophobic tension. Scenes of mundane domesticity - Norma cooking, Tom reading - are punctuated by Martin’s bizarre interjections (singing hymns, quoting scripture), creating a tonal dissonance that mirrors the story’s moral ambiguity. The 4K UHD video and audio quality reflect Vinegar Syndrome’s commitment to authenticity and excellence, elevating a 1982 TV adaptation into a 4K showcase without overpolishing its raw edges. The extras are a treasure trove - thoughtfully curated, newly produced, and generous in runtime - offering both behind-the-scenes insight and academic analysis. For fans of Potter, Sting, or British gothic cinema, this release is a must-own, blending technical prowess with a deep dive into the film’s troubled soul. This is an uncomfortable film that is absolutely recommended.

Gary Tooze