A riveting study of filial nastiness from the master of the pregnant pause, Harold Pinter. This film is essentially a record, directed by Peter Hall, of his 1965 stage production: the huge living room, where all the action takes place, is preserved and the film thankfully avoids too much 'opening out'. And what a cast: Paul Rogers as the retired butcher paterfamilias, Cyril Cusack as his cab driver brother, Michael Jayston, Ian Holm, Terence Rigby (as the three sons) and Vivien Merchant (as the wife of the eldest son). A family is reunited when the eldest son and his wife return from the US. However this is no cosy fireside chat, but a weaselly web, precision-balanced, of chilling threat and counter-threat. And any humour is the blackest of black. Of the top-notch performances, it's probably Ian Holm, as Lenny (the 'cheese roll' scene is a classic), and Vivien Merchant, extraordinarily charismatic as Ruth, who stand out. Not an easy thing to watch: you'll either be bored out of your mind or rooted to your armchair.

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