The Scold's Bridle (1998) User Reviews

Twenty years on, it's still a terrific watch.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 23 December 2019]

Matilda was a cruel, wealthy tyrant, who enjoyed manipulating people, so when she is found dead in a bath wearing a scold's bridal, suspicions arise that she was murdered.

I read the book many years ago, and have to say this is one impressive dramatisation, it is very faithful to the text, the characters are exactly as you picture them, particular Joanna and Matilda, spot on.

Superb acting, they're all wonderful, Trudie Styler is captivating as Joanna.

It's an excellent two part drama, it's well paced, gritty and pretty shocking, with some graphic and upsetting scenes. For 1998 this pushed the boundaries.

It doesn't let up, the opening scenes of Part two are the most shocking, very harrowing.

Anyone that's watched this or read the book, I'd ask the question do you feel at all sorry for Joanna? Does she deserve sympathy?

Absorbing but too many sub plots.

[larry-485-161583 · 8/10 · 28 October 2013]

I came across this interesting drama on an old VHS tape recently. It certainly has plenty of intrigue and atmosphere but rambles into just one too many side stories along the way. Simpler would have been better in my opinion. Mathilda, played by the still stunningly beautiful Sian Phillips, is found naked in her bath. The victim of apparent suicide?

Along comes near to retirement, local flat foot Sergeant Cooper, hoping to crack the case and leave the force on a higher pension rate. Of the main characters I found Joanna, played by Trudie Styler the most compelling. Although most men would view her as rather plain looking I have to confess that I couldn't keep my eyes off her. She has the most amazing, chiselled from granite (but sexy) face of any women.

After several side issues (one or two somewhat kinky) have been resolved plod gets his man and we are treated to a VERY disturbing final scene. I enjoyed watching it again but it could have been 45 minutes shorter and better for it. 8 out of 10.

Like the real thing

[voxra · 10/10 · 28 September 2000]

Having read the book and seen the TV series several times I'm still amazed as to how close to the characters in the book this adaptation gets. Miranda Richardson as the unbridled (pardon the pun) and headstrong GP and Trudie Styler (Sting's wife I've been told) as the troubled Joanna are the two actors and characters that will stay with me for a while, but this is an all around top notch cast they're all brilliant.