Mindhorn (2016)

A fading actor can redeem himself by reprising his 1980s TV role as a sleuth with a robotic truth-telling eye, to catch a deranged killer, in this off-the-wall British comedy.
Washed-up Richard Thorncroft peaked with hit 1980s detective show Mindhorn, playing the titular Isle of Man sleuth with a robotic eye that allowed him to literally “see the truth”. Decades later, when a deranged Manx criminal demands Mindhorn as his nemesis, Thorncroft returns to the scene of his greatest triumphs for one last chance to reignite his glory days, professional credibility and even romance with former co-star/paramour Patricia Deville. The Mighty Boosh’s Julian Barratt and co-writer Simon Farnaby’s joyously off-the-wall creation follows in the grand tradition of pompous, spectacularly oblivious yet vulnerable British losers, from Alan Partridge to David Brent. It’s also a loving send-up of vintage home-grown detective shows and much more, with terrific support from Farnaby, Steve Coogan and perennial location stand-in The Isle of Man playing itself to cheeky perfection. See the truth.
2016 United Kingdom, USA, Isle of Man
Directed by
Sean Foley
Produced by
Laura Hastings-Smith, Jack Arbuthnott
Written by
Julian Barratt, Simon Farnaby
Featuring
Julian Barratt, Andrea Riseborough, Essie Davis
Running time
88 minutes