What are you looking at? Villain was directed by Michael Tuchner and adapted by Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais, and Al Lettieri from James Barlow's novel, The Burden of Proof. It features Richard Burton, Ian McShane, T.P. McKenna, Donald Sinden, Nigel Davenport, Fiona Lewis, Joss Ackland, Cathleen Nesbitt, Colin Welland, and Tony Selby. A Panavision/Technicolor production with music by Jonathan Hodge and cinematography by Christopher Challis. Ruthless London gangster Vic Dakin (Burton) agrees to plan a wages van robbery. However, he’s less than pleased when asked to collaborate with another gang's operation, especially considering the difficulties in his personal life. 1971 brought us the exceptional Get Carter, which is certainly a landmark film within British neo-noir cinema. That same year also saw Straw Dogs and A Clockwork Orange emerge, stirring controversy and challenging audiences’ sensibilities; there was something brewing within Britain's violent landscape. Another very violent British movie, Villain, was released that year as well—a criminally overlooked depiction of grim Britain. Richard Burton, known for his rugged masculinity and tales of hard drinking, portrays a sadistic homosexual gangster with a sizable build. He isn't hesitant to use a razor for revenge or to beat his boyfriend Wolfie Lissner (McShane) before intimacy, but he adores his mother immensely! This may have been difficult for some Burton fans to accept, which might explain why the film disappeared quickly and remains largely relegated to cult status appreciation. Some of the more intimate scenes between Burton and McShane were actually removed, so the rumored fallout could have been even worse. I mention this because accounts regarding the film’s box office performance are contradictory… Watching it now reveals Villain to be a sharp piece of British filmmaking, often uncompromising and populated with characters who are either damaged or possess unusual traits. It's pure neo-noir in both its character portrayals and narrative structure. Dakin is a whirlwind of conflicting emotions; his anger is frightening but balanced by his attachment to his mother. Wolfie is a bisexual pimp stuck in a routine, Gerald Draycott (Sinden) is an MP with a sexual appetite that leads him into trouble beyond his control, and so on. We see thugs with ulcers, hapless girlfriends, a snitch, blackmail, murder, unrestrained violence, nudity, sadism, and two tough police officers who aren’t above resorting to force to get what they need. The robbery itself is also well done—a chase and heist sequence expertly crafted by the filmmakers. The script has some darkly humorous moments, and the writers have a knack for capturing London slang. The London settings are classic early 70s landmarks, all photographed in that gritty, low-key style that perfectly complements the story unfolding onscreen. The cast is full of well-known British actors who all deliver solid performances, making for a captivating and powerful viewing experience. There were some comments about Burton’s accent, but it's not really that noticeable and only becomes apparent when he needs to shout. Burton is excellent; the role demands boldness, and he delivers a bold performance—it’s certainly one of his most undervalued roles. It isn’t quite as brilliant as Get Carter, but it’s something of a must-see for anyone who enjoys British gangster films, and it also works well alongside Michael Caine's masterpiece. 8.5/10

Source on TMDB