The Debt Collector

1999

1h 45m

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

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Thriller

Action

Crime

Mean, gritty, dirty and low, and that's just the policeman Gary Keltie, out for retribution for the horrendous crimes against the helpless people of Edinburgh during the 1970s, by notorious, torturous, and killer, debt collector Nickie Dryden.

Directors

Anthony Neilson

Writers

Anthony Neilson(writer by)

Stars

Billy Connolly

Ken Stott

Francesca Annis

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Videos2

Trailer
Watch The Debt Collector (1999) | Film4 Trailer
Trailer
Watch DEBT COLLECTOR TRAILER

Photos4

Top cast

Nickie Dryden

Gary Keltie

Val Dryden

Flipper

Lana

Colquhoun

Janitor

Valerie's sister

Tattoo official

Catriona

Valerie’s father

Directors

Anthony Neilson

Writers

Anthony Neilson(writer by)

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Featured review

9/10

The debt that must be paid. To date this remains the only film Anthony Neilson has directed, in fact, he also wrote it and his writing credits can also be counted on one hand. This is a crime, for The Debt Collector is a powerhouse film, a grim and grungy piece of British miserablism that serves to gnaw away at your senses. Billy Connolly stars as ex-con Nickie Dryden, who after release from prison marries and tries to start afresh as an artist. But there is a vengeful policeman on his tail, Gary Keltie (Ken Stott), who believes nobody should ever forget the crimes that Dryden perpetrated. Stripping it down it's a tale of repercussions of actions, of perceived retribution and of off-kilter hero worship. Right from the off you know this is a tragedy piece, something Shakespearian like, clearly we are not in this part of Edinburgh to be cheered up! The colour photography (Dick Pope) is beautiful and belies the harsh nature of the story, while Neilson shows some splendid flighty camera work that gracefully marries up with the great performances of his two lead actors. It's a punch in the face movie, attention grabbing for sure, but it also taxes the brain. An unjustly neglected film that deserves to be sought out by more lovers of gritty British cinema. 9/10 Footnote: Subtitles might be required for non British viewers.

John Chard22 Feb, 2016