Villain

This melodramatic crime drama tells the story of homosexual gang leader Vic Dakin (Richard Burton), who likes a bit of rough sex with his petty criminal pal Wolfe (Ian McShane). Aside from payroll robberies, his gang is not above blackmailing sexually deviant members of Parliament. A Scotland Yard ...more

Villain is a grim but effective piece of work that nicely represents the 1970's take on the "cops & crooks" genre. The script is laced with wit and acid cynicism, portraying a world where morality is relative for everyone, heroes included. Richard Burton anchors the story with a carefully controlled lead performance, creating a crime boss who shifts from emotionally needy to sociopathically brutal in the blink of an eye. His performance is impressive because he avoids flashy melodramatics, ...more