The Grotesque, also known as Gentlemen Don't Eat Poets and Grave
Indiscretion, is a Gothic dark comedy/mystery.
Paleontologist Sir Hugo Coal (Alan Bates), his adult daughter (Lena Headey)
and his American wife (Theresa Russell) live together in a stately old country
mansion. Also living on the premises is George (Jim Carter), who was with Sir
Hugo on his bone collecting expeditions, and now serves as his hog-keeper and
butcher. His daughter's young man - a wannabee poet- arrives, much to Sir Alan's
dismay, and a new butler (Sting) and cook (Trudie Styler, aka Mrs. Sting) also
arrive.
The wife is the one with the money, and old Sir Hugo is far more interested
in his paleontology than any of his wife's body parts, so she makes an
attractive target for seduction by Sting. When Sting learns that Sir Hugo is
set against the poet, he also seduces him - and the young man goes missing.
The poet's mother arrives on the scene to help with the investigation, and a
body is eventually found, with the flesh eaten by pigs, and the bones showing
lots of tooth marks. Sting then pushes Sir Hugo, who falls into a coma, and
the police arrest George the hog-keeper for the crime. What happens after that
is somewhat arguable due to an ambiguous ending.
The ending was disappointing, and the long process of getting there wasn't
much fun either. I did enjoy several of the characters, but the plot was not
at all engrossing. Not only that, but I am reasonably sure the butler did it.
This is a low C-, but offers some very rare nudity, available only on a
Region 2 PAL DVD. If interested, click on this image:
