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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
Directed by Richard Loncraine
UK 1982
Young con man Martin Taylor is out grifting on the streets of London when he
happens across Tom Bates, a middle-class family man who, Martin quickly learns,
has a disabled daughter at home who’s been left brain-damaged by a hit-and-run
accident. Pretending to be an old love interest of the girl, Pattie, Martin soon
tricks his way into the family’s countryside home, where he promptly charms
mother Norma and convinces her to let him stay for a few days to be close to and
care for Pattie - much to the wariness of Tom, who questions Martin’s
intentions. As the young man ingratiates himself more and more into their family
life, it soon becomes clear that he harbors a much more sinister purpose. |
Posters
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Theatrical Release: August 22nd, 1982 (Montréal World Film Festival)
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Review: Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - 4K UHD
Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures: |
Distribution | Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - 4K UHD | |
Runtime | 1:27:04.928 | |
Video |
1.66 :1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 43,976,849,026 bytesFeature: 25,519,887,168 bytesVideo Bitrate: 34.93 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
1.66:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD Disc Size: 65,602,640,654 bytesFeature: 64,527,329,280 bytesVideo Bitrate: 92.02 MbpsCodec: HEVC Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate Blu-ray: |
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Bitrate 4K UHD: |
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Audio |
DTS-HD Master Audio English 2186 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2186 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) |
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Subtitles | English (SDH), None | |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Vinegar Syndrome
1.66:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD Disc Size: 65,602,640,654 bytesFeature: 64,527,329,280 bytesVideo Bitrate: 92.02 MbpsCodec: HEVC Video
Edition Details: • Newly recorded select-scene audio commentary with lead actor Sting and director Richard Loncraine (41:17) • "Trouble Brewing" (26:07) - an interview with director Richard Loncraine • "A House for the Devil" (16:06) - an interview with production designer Milly Burns • "Big Visions and Small Screens: Dennis Potter on Film" (22:50) - film historians Jon Dear and John Williams on the big screen adaptations of Dennis Potter • Original trailer (2:34) Reversible sleeve artwork Liner notes booklet
Chapters 5 |
Comments: |
NOTE:
The below
Blu-ray
and
4K UHD
captures were taken directly from the respective
discs.
ADDITION: Vinegar Syndrome
4K UHD
(April 2025): Vinegar Syndrome has transferred Richard Loncraine's
Brimstone & Treacle
to
4K UHD. It
NOTE: We have added 62 more large
resolution Blu-ray captures
(in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.
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
"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. |
Menus / Extras
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Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - 4K UHD
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
1) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP 2) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM
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Examples of NSFW (Not Safe For Work) 4K UHD - (Mouse Over - click to enlarge)
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More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE
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Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures: |
Distribution | Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - 4K UHD |
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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |