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The Debt Collector Details

1999 DVD Certificate 18.gif
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 893 members

THE DEBT COLLECTOR stars Billy Connolly as ex-con Nickie Dryden, a man who's done his time--18 years in one of the toughest prisons in Britain. Now Dryden's married and has made a new life for himself as an acclaimed artist. However, Gary Keltie (Kenny Stott), the policeman responsible for his conviction, cannot accept Dryden's .. Read more

Starring Billy Connolly, Ken Stott, Francesca Annis, Iain Robertson
Director Anthony Neilson
Genres Thriller

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The Debt Collector

THE DEBT COLLECTOR stars Billy Connolly as ex-con Nickie Dryden, a man who's done his time--18 years in one of the toughest prisons in Britain. Now Dryden's married and has made a new life for himself as an acclaimed artist. However, Gary Keltie (Kenny Stott), the policeman responsible for his conviction, cannot accept Dryden's rehabilitation and embarks on a campaign to ensure his violent crimes are not forgotten or forgiven. Connolly and Stott both give outstanding performances in this gripping drama.

Starring Billy Connolly, Ken Stott, Francesca Annis, Iain Robertson
Director Anthony Neilson
Studio 4dvd
Run time DVD: 1 hr 45 mins
Certificate DVD Certificate 18.gif
Genres Thriller
Language English
Hearing-impaired English
Subtitles English
Released DVD: 09 Jul 2007
Production year: 1999
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (3) of The Debt Collector

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  • 4 stars out of 5

    As hard-hitting as a kick in the stomach, this gritty Scottish drama is outstanding on all fronts. First-time director Anthony Neilson has crafted a visceral and cathartic tale with virtuoso skill, combining tragedy on a Shakespearean scale with vibrant colour and superb camera control. Billy Connolly stars as a reformed ex-con and now successful sculptor whose violent past comes back to haunt him in the shape of his arresting officer, Ken Stott. Stott takes it upon himself to deal Connolly true retribution for his crimes and in the process they and their families suffer severe repercussions. With a simple enough synopsis in the revenge tragedy vein, this film manages to exist in a class of its own owing to incredible performances from Francesca Annis, Annette Crosbie, Connolly and Stott, and the formidable talent of the debuting Neilson.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006
  • 2 stars out of 4

    Violent , intensely-acted melodrama of hatred, rivalry and obsession that also casts an ironic sidelight on the current cult of the gangster as celebrity.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
    • Posted 02 Mar 2006

  • Most helpful member's review of The Debt Collector

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  • 4 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Taggart with Teeth

    This film reminded me very much of the gritty Taggart series.

    If you liked that, you will love this, as, in my opinion this is one cracker of a movie.

    Connelly is superb acting the bad guy trying to go straight, and Ken Stott even manages to outshine him, as the cop who won't let him forget his past.

    A gritty drama with a great twist at the end

    Watch this one....

      • Joe Majury from Belfast. N.Ireland
      • Posted 02 Jul 2004 unknown

  • Most recent members' review of The Debt Collector

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Great British Brutality

    For those who, like me, think Billy Connolly is one of the funniest men alive, this film is a bit of a wake-up call which brings back a lot of the harsh realities of Billy's own life growing up as a welder in Glasgow. Rather than a comedy in any sense, there isn't really a single laugh out loud moment in this film. What there is, rather, is an intense and escalating battle between an old cop down on his luck and living alone with his mother and a successful former debt-collector who has since become a famous and exceptional artist. The policeman and the artist, played by Ken Stott and Billy Connolly respectively, take it in turn to further the vicious circle of hatred that consumes their relationship. The film is gritty, brutal at times, and certainly does not try to play itself in a hollywood way. There is no clear good and bad, nothing is just black and white. It's a deep and dark masterpiece with stellar performances that leave you with no easy moral answers to lifes questions, a must see for any true film-lover.

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Rating breakdown

893 Member ratings
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60
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155
  • 60
178
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115
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73
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35
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18

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      • THE DEBT COLLECTOR stars Billy Connolly as ex-con Nickie Dryden, a man who's done his time--18 years in one of the toughest prisons in Britain. Now Dryden's married and has made a new life for ...