Fanny Lye Deliver'd

I'd been on a pretty good roll with films, recently, managing to stream some really lovely little gems and happy discoveries. Then came this, which I'd really wanted to see at the LFF in 2019, but which brought my run to a shuddering halt. On a remote farm in post-Civil War Shropshire, Maxine Peake and Charles Dance (sufficient) play a devoutly Christian couple who take in a naked man and woman on the run who..well, I'm not sure what their deal was, despite a rambling monologue by the man in quasi-religious terms. They are shortly followed by another duo in hot pursuit, claiming to be official but..nope, no idea what they're really supposed to be, either. The boss is effete and sadistic, his lascivious, leering henchman seems, at times, to be a hunchback. The film abruptly turns into a home invasion flick, then art house porn, then goes full Peckinpah a la "Straw Dogs". There's an insistent, intrusive score that plays under pretty much everything, and a portentous narration, much like the Amazing Criswell in those Ed Wood films: "Little did Fanny Lye know that this would be the last time...." "And then Fanny Lye realised that her world had changed...". In the end, Fanny mounts her steed and rides off, the music soaring, the narration intoning, for all the world like a Western. The director throws in a couple of visual flairs, including a spinning camera that's more annoying than anything else, but otherwise there's little skill or fun to be had. It's a hard slog and truly, truly ghastly.

A great release of a great Thomas Clay film starring Maxine Peake and Charles Dance by Pull Back Camera on 4K UHD Blu-ray.A very different type of British film that feels refreshing and new. An excellent watch.Set in 17th Century Shropshire it tells the story of two strangers who arrive at a puritans family farm seeking refuge only to transform the lives of that family beyond recognition.This release is a Limited Edition, only 3000 made on 4k UHD disc.This edition includes 2 discs.Disc 1- Has the previously unseen 130 minute extended version in 4k UHD Dolby vision with a Directors Commentary and English Subtitles. 20 scene selections.Disc 2- Has the theatrical version on 1080P Blu-Ray with English subs. Comes with a 31 minute q and a from the 2020 Edinburgh Film with the actors from the film. Minus Maxine Peake. A stills making of gallery, trailer and audio description in English. 12 scene selections.Both discs have English 5.1 DTS-HD MA Soundtracks.This release also has a lovely 38 page booklet that includes an interview with the director.Picture and sound quality is excellent.Well worth buying but be quick as there are only 3000!

Seeing Maxine Peake as the lead actor, I thought this would be a thoughtful exploration of the religious and social values of the time, and indeed, for the first 15 or 20 minutes things are promising, as you see the fundamentalist Puritan beliefs of a nuclear family being challenged by a young couple seeking refuge who hold more libertarian views. But then it descends into a ridiculous bodice-ripping Witchfinder General / Wicker Man / Hammer Horror-type farce. And it must win the prize for the worst most inappropriate background/soundtrack music, at times sounding like a colliery brass band - hardly supportive to the English Civil War/Puritan England setting. Thankfully I only wasted £1.99 on this. Maxine Peake - what were you thinking?

It's impossible to see this film for what it may have been. I bought it on the strength of a Guardian review (now realising that the review was by Peter Bradshaw, I should have taken that as a warning. He failed to mention the appalling music and how over-used it is throughout. It heightens nothing, it renders the entire film flat. Poorly scored and terribly placed the music will ruin it for you so beware! If you need a laugh, rush to the part where the Constable arrived and listen to what happens to the music! When one person writes, directs and scores the film then that person has to be brilliant. Thomas Clay is a hod-carrier in comparison. A Field In England this aint. Order that now instead.

I liked this film as it really brought across how people lived in the age it was set. I watched it with a friend and he thought I was too slow, but it built to a, I think, a fascinating ending.

For the first 10-15 minutes you're fooled into the possibility that this may actually be worth the fiver you spent renting it, and then it all starts to turn into some kind of pathetically lame, almost laughable semi porn that tried to be somewhat artsy but really just seems to havebeen created by a bunch of university film students during a weekend of necking back shots of jegermeister and 1980s grade coke. So beyond lame it doesnt even fall into the "its so lame its hilarious" category.Although the cockney side-kick Igor-hunchback character thing going on towards the end was rather amusing.

I new I would like this film, but the sound track!I have no idea what the directors' intention was; he wrote the score too, according to the cover.I find it is so jarring to the whole mood of the film, a hodgepodge of styles, sorry Mr Clay.But it is a really good film. It is spiritualy and morally violent.If I could go back 40 odd years and curate an all nighter at Oxford's Penultimate Picture Palace (I was town not gown and got my film Ed there). I would put this in a pre-May morning triple sesh along with 'Witchfinder General' and 'A field in England'....just redux the score.

Great acting all round ,Beautifully shot on location,violent,gripping drama.👏👏👏