Watch The Offence

The Offence is a gripping British psychological thriller from 1973, directed by Sidney Lumet and stars Sean Connery, Trevor Howard, and Vivien Merchant. Set in a small town in England, the film follows Detective Sergeant Johnson (Sean Connery), a veteran cop who is on the brink of a mental breakdown after years of investigating horrific crimes. When a young girl is raped and murdered, Johnson becomes obsessed with finding the killer, and his behavior becomes increasingly erratic and violent.

His troubled state of mind is compounded by the presence of Detective Superintendant Cartwright (Trevor Howard), who conducts an internal investigation into Johnson's handling of the case. Cartwright suspects that Johnson has crossed the line in his pursuit of justice and has become dangerously unhinged.

As the investigation progresses, Johnson's personal demons begin to surface, and we are taken on a psychological journey into his troubled past. His relationships with his wife (Vivien Merchant) and mistress are explored, as well as his experiences as a soldier in World War II. Through these flashbacks, we come to understand how these traumatic experiences have affected Johnson's mental state and contributed to his breakdown.

The Offence is a dark, intense, and haunting exploration of the human psyche, revealing the effects of years of exposure to trauma, violence, and death. Sean Connery delivers a powerful performance as the troubled detective, conveying the depths of his character's pain and anguish.

The film's direction and cinematography are masterful, with Sidney Lumet's signature attention to detail in every shot. The use of lighting, shadows, and close-ups to capture the psychological state of the characters is especially effective. The soundtrack, composed by Harrison Birtwistle, adds to the unsettling atmosphere of the film with its haunting, discordant tones.

Although the film is set in England, its themes of trauma, violence, and the human psyche are universal and continue to resonate with audiences today. The Offence is a must-see for fans of psychological thrillers, and for anyone interested in exploring the darker aspects of the human condition.

In conclusion, The Offence is a masterful work of psychological drama with powerful performances from its cast, especially Sean Connery. The film's exploration of trauma, violence, and the human psyche is timeless, and it remains a powerful and unsettling experience for modern audiences.

The Offence is a 1973 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 52 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 70.