User Reviews

This is an oddity: a British film that doesn't trade on its Britishness, instead relying on its strong plot and themes to carry it along. Billy Connolly's and Ken Stott's performances contrast pleasingly, the former underplaying his hopefully-reformed murderer, and the latter foaming at the mouth with the sheer excesses of his anger.

The film touches on themes of forgiveness, justice and obsession, but lays no claim to easy solutions, instead trying its hardest to give a hard time to all involved. Forgive but don't forget would seem to be the message.

Unfortunately, its fast pace sometimes swamps opportunities for true character development. At times saddening, at others horrifically disturbing, The Debt Collector never manages to build enough empathy to be truly touching.

My title isn't to imply that this movie isn't worth seeing. If you can stand the despair, this movie is fantastic.

I found that the words of the Greeks came back to me as I was watching The Debt Collector. "Those whom the gods will destroy, they first make mad". It seemed apt for a modern tragedy in the tradition of Sophocles.

The best technique that Neilson used was lighting. It's rare to have a movie that goes from such brightness to such gloom. The wedding scene, for instance, was as bright and cheerful as you expect such a scene to be, but after Keltie's parting shot, we are outside, in the rain, the dark, the gloom... perfect!

The violence is something that others have commented on. It is so unlike the Hollywood violence that we are accustomed to seeing. This violence is very real, and more shocking and horrifying because of it. All the male lead characters were capable of violence, and it made me wonder how close we all are from such displays.

The Debt Collector is a story of hatred gone to extremes. It spoke to me of how hatred and revenge are empty ideas... and how it is much more important, if difficult to forgive those who have harmed you, and not to live in the past.

This movie is not for everyone, but if you are interested in tragedy, then you should see this film.

I really enjoyed this movie. The acting was excellent throughout and the storyline gritty and lifelike. This is life at the raw end of the spectrum. The violence was visceral and essential to the plot. Some good sights of Edinburgh and the iconic Forth Rail Bridge.

A tale of a violent man struggling to shake off his past, though it seems far behind him. When a contemporary from that past makes it all the more difficult to forget the haunting truth of 'another' life. Nick Dryden ,convicted gangster and man of violence emerges from prison a respected sculptor and marries a middle class journalist.

Francesca Annis for me took the acting honours though all the male roles were almost equally well performed.Stott and Connolly both excel.

As someone said already 'a debt well worth collecting', see it soon if you haven't already

Ken Stott who is the policeman who just keeps on hounding Billy Connolly an ex-con, even after the latter has served his sentence, puts in a really brilliant performance. Francesca Annis as Connolly's wife is very good as well. Well paced and riveting throughout this film is well worth seeing when one is sick of all the bang-wham of the big American movies.

This could have been a great film as the four protagonists each put in a strong performance especially Francesca Annis who is brilliant.

It attempts to be a serious examination about whether a man's abhorrent violent past can ever be forgiven by his victims and whether those who take their duty to serve to protect seriously, like the police officer Gary Keltie,(Ken Stott) (who had been instrumental in taking him off the streets some 18 years ago) who don't believe Nickie Dryden (Billy Connolly) is a changed man. Haunting all those directly involved are the harrowing past images of the torture and mayhem he inflicted on his victims.

The film makes a well made contrast between those who can easily forgive because it is but a remote experience which happened to others of which they know little and those who have suffered either as victims or as those who were emotionally related to those victims. To the Edinburgh arty literati he had paid his price according to the official judicial system by serving a long jail sentence for murder and by appearing reformed through his talent developed in prison which squares his past and placates their easy conscience to forgive.

Their easy forgiveness is contrasted to those who actually suffered whose still open wounds are articulated by the police detective Keltie character. The scepticism and disbelief of these silent witnesses is passionately articulated by the Gary Keltie,(Ken Stott)character.

It is unusual for a film to show so clearly this demarcation and divergence between the two views depending on where you are standing.

Objectivity and forgiveness is easy if you are not a victim yourself and this is wonderfully brought out later in the film when one of those to whom he is now close but to whom past is another country has to live through the same torments when someone dear to them is murdered in a similarly bloody and brutal way to that by which Nickie Dryden had dispatched his earlier victim for which he had served his 18 years.

Despite all the fancy surroundings which Dryden's talent and infamy combined have brought him, including his very "uptown girl" writer wife Val, played by Francesca Annis (who Keltie believes is partly attracted by the aura of his past infamy) Keltie believes him to be a fake: as also interestingly does the wannabe thug Flipper (Iain Robertson) who hero worships Dryden's past image.

If it had stuck to portraying in a more realistic way the central theme of which, if either, of the 3 views (1) whether or not Dryden's debt "to society" is repaid by serving the officially sanctioned sentence and coming out a seemingly reformed character and accepted in official society or (2) whether he really is faking at being a changed man and (3) whether his debt can ever repaid and forgiven by his real victims (or those close to them) and those whose job it is to protect them, then this would have been a great film.

As it is where it all falls apart into disbelief are several volcanic graphic, outrageous, completely over the top scenes, where the Gary Keltie,(Ken Stott) character himself commits violent acts which go way beyond angst and disbelief over demonstrating to himself and those he seeks to protect, that Nickie Dryden (Billy Connolly) can ever be anything but the psychopath he knew and put away.

The only purpose of two of these scenes, the one at the art gallery and the other at a wedding that I can think of is that it contrasts the real difficulty which those who were or witnessed at 1st hand his victims suffering have in forgiving someone who harmed them with those to whom the remote experience of his perpetrated violence means very little.

The 3rd scene is just so ridiculous and outrageous as it descends from an advocacy by Keltie by public challenges to the legitimacy of official forgiveness to that of private and personal revenge thereby descending to the similar level of depravity as the criminals whose behaviour he hates so much.

The script seems to be saying that by Keltie being unable to contemplate a reformed perpetrator he sets in motion his own destruction being unable to shake off his "lifer" grudge against Dryden.

I find it difficult for even the most conscientious detective, 18 years on, to be so obsessed to the point of near insanity with one particular past criminal given the number of hard cases he would have come across in the meantime especially one who is no longer trying to reestablish himself on old stomping grounds (literally) that he would jeopardise not only his career but put his life on the line to pursue a current non-criminal even if he is completely convinced that Nickie Dryden is a fraud.

This a gritty , violent movie that i found quite hard to watch. Not because of the gritty nature of the film but because it was extremely depressing , so much so it spoilt the film . The film is about a ex debt collector(Billy Connolly) who has done his time for murder and the Policeman (Kenn Stott) who sent him down , who cannot still find it in himself to forgive him for the terrible things he did even though he was a changed man. I found it hard to understand why the Cop took it so personally . The language is about as blue as i have ever heard in a film and the violence is pretty bad too. One thing is for sure , the scottish tourist board will not be using this film to promote their capital city! Check out the actor who plays flipper, he looks like he fell out of the ugly tree hitting every branch on the way down. 6 out of 10.

Deciding whose side you're on whilst watching The Debt Collector isn't easy. Hicky Dryden (Billy Connolly) is certainly a low-life ex- criminal who has left scars on many people during his career as a collector for the shadier side of loan sharking but, in his older years, he is a changed man (well, until aggravated). He is married to a lovely wife (Francesca Annis) who isn't totally aware of his past - although she knows a bit - but takes him as she has him now.

Unfortunately, there is a cop, Gary Keltie (Ken Stott) who has a very long memory and a somewhat over-zealous desire to see justice done for many of Nicky's victims. There are times when you sympathise with Keltie and want to see Nicky get his and then there are times when you want him to fail.

Good luck understanding some of the Scottish brogue during this movie (you may need subtitles) although the language of the underworld is pretty universal. Ultimately, both Nicky and Gary's outcomes are more determined by others that they are by themselves - but I'll let you find all that out on your own.

The Debt Collector is a brilliant study of one man's attempt to escape his past without fully paying for his sins and one man's obsession which eventually takes over his life. Nicky Dryden (Billy Connelly) is the man with the past, a vicious debt collector. Keltie (Ken Stott) is the cop who ensnares him and puts him away. When Dryden is released he starts to make a name for himself as an artist and marries a beautiful reporter. Keltie cannot bear to see a man like Dryden living a lifestyle like that after all the horror he created. Dryden of course is a reformed man but is haunted by his past. His wife Val (Francesca Annis) seems to be the only one who understands. All Keltie had is his mother (Annette Crosbie) who is starting to suffer from dementia. When Keltie seeks revenge on Dryden on behalf of all his victims it becomes an obsession. Then Flipper (Iain Robertson) a young thug who hero-worships Dryden, becomes the catalyst for tragic events to unfold and nobodies life is untouched. You will never see a more intense study of obsession. The closest film comparison would be TAXI DRIVER, but that is the story of a loner. The men in Debt Collector both have responsibilities toward family and that is the source of the tragedy in the film. The performances are brilliant, Connelly, Stott, Robertson and Annis are perfect, with Stott deserving a special mention for creating one of the most complicated characters in Scottish Screen History. The Direction is tight, Neilson never once showing his TV roots. This is a film well worth seeking out.

Billy Connolly is an enforcer who is "tired of bein' the headbangers' William Wallace" (great quote), who can't beat a vendetta from a cop who convicted him, who is nevertheless off his nut (or some other expression, better from Scotland). This gives you some clue that this is another loopy New=Britain type crime film with mentally deficient mosh pit types and Bob Hoskins wannabe grownups. But it stays coherent enough not to be overly self satirical or cynically detached with a breath that can't fog a mirror. There are plot twists and tragic elements that hold attention, although it's not too hard to see what happens next. If you're not thrown off by the Scottish slang -- and some of these 90's films from Scotland are incomprehensible -- It's good to see a familiar cast do their thing. The point of this film is that Scotland is a politically correct society that tends to whitewash bad morality with respectable dudgeon for 'what's good for humanity'. And behind it is a pent up rage that must make the UK one of the most passive aggressive societies on earth. You saw this in "Clockwork Orange" and even Gordon Brown's release of Adel Al-Meghrahi to Libya. What became of HIM? Time to send in Connolly to find out.

I sought this film out when it came up in conversation recently and I mentioned I had never heard of it. I should have realised there is a reason why you never hear of such films. Billy Connolly is Nickie Dryden, a poorly-disguised Jimmy Boyle, a notorious ex-con who has re-invented himself as a sculptor and married a classy, educated beauty, a woman who society suspects is indulging in a bit of rough. As Dryden's artistic career peaks, the cop who put him away emerges looking for vengeance. Ken Stott as the righteous police officer Keltie is mis-cast, lacking the physical menace or darker shades the character's descent into madness requires. Connolly looks uncomfortable in every scene, most of all in a bizarre climax at the Tattoo where he has a staring contest with a little girl. At this point Dryden is supposedly filled with angst after giving in to his long suppressed rage, but Connolly looks like he has just told a particularly good joke on Parkinson. The camera seems to pan and zoom randomly with no sense of directorial vision. The whole film is blanketed in plinky-plonk BGM that is impossible to ignore. Francesca Annis tries hard, but her character's dilemma, that she only now realises the vicious thug she married was, in fact, once a vicious thug, makes no sense. Iain Robertson does a wonderful job as Flipper, a psychopath ned who is a wannabe Dryden, but the script and direction overpower his efforts with their mediocrity. In short, this is an astonishingly poor film.

An excellent film, though what a bleak view of human nature. Connolly's character is trying to live a good life and the psychotic policeman is determined that it won't happen.

Real Shakespearian tragedy, the wilful misunderstanding of the others characters motives by virtually everyone in the film made the outcome inevitable. The fight in Edinburgh Castle was a wee bit on the unbelievable side, but definitely fitted into the dramatic tradition.

At the end you were left wondering who had actually benefited from the whole sordid mess?

I watched it only because it was on TV, and there was not anything better to watch. This is one of those kinds of movies you have to be from the place where they were made in order to like them. I am not from Scotland, so I did not like this movie, but the main reason was the acting, which is mostly poor, and sometimes over-the-top. Add to that that the story is unbelievable. The mad policeman can do whatever he wants, and nobody does anything to stop him, either physically or legally. When he speaks, everybody just stands there and listens. Come on! And the mutual stabbing in the end is laughable. Well, there is a reason why I had never heard of this film before.

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.

I have just seen this movie and thought I should make a comment on it. The performances by Billy Connolly and Ken Stott deserve accolades,Connolly is just as good as he was in Mrs.Brown,playing a man who after spending years in jail is determined to go straight. Newcomer Iain Robertson also gives a very good performance as a gangster wannabee. This film is a must see movie for Connolly fans,and just for people who like to watch a good quality movie.

Ewan's birthday video choice and he picks The Debt Collector. (Now is not the time for the censorship debate.) His choice was probably affected by the Billy Connolly star billing. He thinks the Big Yin is very funny. I blow hot and cold. I fell about with his tales of Clydebank and shipbuilding. I stopped laughing when it came to polo on elephants with Ringo. It got positively boring during the bodily function years. Still, all in all, I like Billy. I think he is funny. And intelligent. And an actor worth his salt. Here he spends the whole film without a smile yet carries me with his stony expressions. The Debt Collector is a whole hod of hard bricks without a soft edge amongst them, cemented into one big wall. Nothing fancy, but you can't ignore it.

Ron

This is a film that really explores so many concepts of crime & justice, but basically leaves you to consider. Can a vicious criminal be reformed or redeemed, can the police cross borderlines due to knowledge of events. This film cleverly leaves you in limbo, is this vendetta the fault of the cop activity in the present or the past conduct of the criminal. Neither of these come out as heroes or villains, or possibly they do. It's very clever, but there is a happy ending for those who require it.

I recently saw this film on London Live.It and I could barely understand what was being said.So I lost the thread of the plot.I had no idea why young Dryden was killed.I felt that Ken Stotts policeman was truly unbelievable. I have to say that I am glad that I did not see this film in the cinema.It merely seems to glamourise violence

This is a deeply powerful and real film, wonderfully portraying the rage and madness which results from festering anger and resentment left unchecked. Billy Connolly plays a reformed thug living a new life as a respectable artist who is dragged back into the cycle of violence and revenge by Ken Stott's character, the policeman who originally caught him.

I loved the realism of the relationships between the people. Nothing was left to the imagination and nothing was exaggerated, leaving bare the anger, fear, pain and regret which rules the characters during this horrible time in their lives.

If you like Billy Connolly, watch this film. If you like gritty Scottish films, watch it. If you like good films which will play with your emotions, this is one to watch.

This is a clever movie. Investigators try to get into the mind of a criminal and become them. That takes obsession, but what happens when obsession takes you? It's a fact of life that most people would like to be the tough, bad guy and this seems to be where this movie gets it's ideas. A life time on stage has prepared Connolly well. His performance is admirable. Admittedly, it's been about 3 years since I seen this film as I write this, though I remember strong feelings associated with it. There's something very real about it. I don't want to spoil this for anyone thinking of watching it, so I'll just say the "assualt" scene is particularly real and horrifically scary, as is the fight scene. No stupid Hollywood sound effects added to this one, and that's what makes it so damn scary because it doesn't seem as though it's just an act. If you like Connolly, check it out. If you like a thriller, same deal. If you like movies at all, there's no reason not to have a peek.

Certainly no evidence of soft, sweet Edinburgh Rock here, instead a hard, boiled "soor ploom" of a film. The explicit realistic, yet necessary, violence does leave a shocked aftertaste, but this is mollified by some humourous sweeteners. Non Scots may wish to take a "universal translator" with them, but the use of dialect merely underlines the authenticity in the setting of the piece. Acting is superb and the story hangs together..well maybe except for the cheesy "tattoo" scene. I certainly would recommend it...and take plenty of sweeties!!

This was a good film, with excellent performances. Billy Connolly adds yet another great performance to his growing list of acting achievements. Violent movie, but very realistic, at points in the movie we had sympathies for main male characters, however that does not last until the end of the film, by which time we came to despise them both.

Very much reminded me of the Jimmy Boyle story, for those of you who know of & about him, with Connolly performing that role, indeed I believe he spoke with Boyle prior to filming.

Not a good advert for Edinburgh though!

This movie really jumps away from your usual good guy bad guy characters for this genre of film. It places Nickie Dryden's character in a position where the viewer doesn't know weather to like him or not. The movie can be a little disturbing at times, but the performances by the main actors are marvelous. Billy Connely really sets a standard of good acting in this piece, and it demonstrates how broad his profile really is, ranging from brilliant comidian to this sometimes dark and un-questionable character in The Debt Collector.

I really can't believe how highly rated this film is on these pages. The plot seemed to be unnecessarily full of very obvious twists (who actually thought that the policeman had killed Dryden's son?) The climactic stabbing scene was too awful to watch apart from on fast forward, and the attempt at a happy ending just lodged in the throat. All the male participants were mentally unstable which ment that there was no sympathy for any of them. I can't believe that my local paper described it as "funny", surely some mistake?

Great film with Billy Connolly & Ken Stott (Keilty the copper, Stott) on his vengeful warpath with his old adversary Dryden (connolly) now reformed as an art sculptor.. with inspector keilty trying to Lure Dryden back into his old murderous debt collecting ways . These two well known scottish actors were well matched in this film along with other scottish actors from Rebus and River City making an appearance as well, the film did have a touch of taggart to i without the red herrings.... thank god!.. it was a fast moving film but very enjoyable and well worth the money even though its an old film it still harks back to the Jimmy boyle era of the knife wielding Glasgow Gangster .