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Middletown is a nice little Irish town where most church-goers are happy to overlook the law in favour of a Sunday pint. All that changes however when preacher Gabriel (Matthew Macfadyen) returns from a spell as a missionary. The trip's turned him into a po-faced religious zealot/general party pooper, in direct contrast to (and confrontation with) his down-to-earth sister-in-law Caroline (Eva Birthistle). The setting is ripe for drama, but despite being very easy on the eye, Middletown lacks any dramatic punch.

As soon as you meet Gabriel, you know he's going to be no angel: no-one gets to be that devout without having a few demons. And so Middletown starts on its intriguing path, showing the gradually devastating effect the preacher's extremism has on the local community. When he's not interfering with his father's business and throwing over tables at the pub, he's giving his outspoken sister-in-law Caroline the evil eye. His brother Jim (Daniel Mays), meanwhile, feels torn between his long lost brother and his pretty, pregnant wife. Fraternal loyalties look set to be tested to the fore, but when Middletown finally explodes into action, it's too much, and too late.

"A WASTE OF TALENT"

The sudden, melodramatic finale doesn't ring true: mainly because Gabriel's inner demons are never fully revealed or explored. The film looks fantastic, and the acting is impeccable, but thanks to the skimpy story you're left scratching your head at the end, thinking 'So what?' Quite a waste of talent.

Middletown is released in UK cinemas on Friday 2nd March 2007.