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The Glass Man begins with put-upon Martin Pyrite (Andy Nyman) getting ready for another day at work, with the perfect timing of the look of disdain on his face as he’s trying to shave while the bathroom window keeps banging closed.
Oh course, he shouldn’t really have to worry because his wife, Julie, is played by the stunning Neve Campbell (Scream, Wild Things, Skyscraper), but his main problem is that he’s got major money worries. He’s falling behind with the mortgage, but doesn’t want to tell his wife. In fact – and the only important thing that I’ll say about the premise – he also hasn’t told her that he’s been fired from his job, yet is still continuing to pretend to go out there each morning… making me wonder if he’s going to go a bit ‘Falling Down‘. Okay, he doesn’t go like that, but instead lets the plot furrow its own path.
He’s too much of a nice guy. For example, he wants to complain about the reference he’s been given, but the head of HR won’t speak to him about it, because the only way he’s allowed to complain is by filling in a form. Even though this film was made in 2011 and it’s taken until 2020 to get a release that most of us can see because it’s come to a number of steaming services, the frustrations are still as real as ever, because we’re becoming ever more disconnected with each other, especially in 2020 when the majority of us are now working from home, rather than going into the office (although I do enjoy my daily not-so-hidden pleasure of two hours of Jeremy Vine each morning).
We get the impression he’s done something so bad at work, that it’s led to him getting the boot as well as receiving a terrible reference, but such things never fully reveal their hand, so we can revel in the mystery that Martin gives us, where he’ll keep his private thoughts to himself. Still, it gives TV legend Don Warrington – as his former boss – a chance to sound off as he makes his feelings heard to everyone.
As I said, he’s too nice, plus he’s trapped in a web of his own never-ending lies, and there are times when he just lets people walk all over him, such as a scene where I was watching through my fingers, because he blatantly gets mugged in broad daylight for his watch – the sort of thing that would happen in a nightmare because in reality, someone would just walk away.
Circumstances lead to a man called Pecco (James Cosmo, in a powerhouse menacing turn) turning up on Martin’s doorstep, claiming he owes him money. He’s offered the chance to clear the debt, but must first commit to saying yes before he’ll be told what he’s actually saying yes to. There’s a revelation in the third act which confirmed what I was thinking was a possibility at one point, but whatever your thoughts may be at any point, I was gripped by this because it’s all about not knowing quite how things will turn out.
There’s mention of an advertised new film being “far-fetched“, but one thing I found far-fetched about this film is that the post actually comes in the morning! Mine doesn’t turn up until at least 3pm 😉
Writer/Director Cristian Solimeno also cameos as movie actor and Martin’s best friend, Toby Huxley.
Now, just for an aside, soon after I heard about this film, very recently, I had a bizarre dream where I was out in Manchester with my best mate, but we were in a car full of people including actor James Cosmo. Suddenly, a car pulled over in front of us, causing us to screech to a halt. I got out (not a good idea, in reality), and a couple of men stepped out of that car, carrying a bag of what looked like cash (stolen) which they wanted us to take, but it was something akin to bearer bonds. Before I knew it, both cars had driven off so fast I didn’t even see them go, and I was stood there. In town, about 3am, and with my phone, bag, wallet and house keys in the car, so I would be rather up the creek getting home.
I later realised it’s all a mix of stuff going round my head – I can’t wait until the bars and clubs are open again (the last time everything was normal was the end of February!), I had this film to watch, and an early discussion that day about Christmas led to me remembering the “It’s Christmas, Theo. It’s the time of miracles” scene from Die Hard… and that film had the bearer bonds.
And although I’ve lost my phone while on a drunken night out before, I’ve always got my wallet and keys about my person, so I’m not going to lose those any time soon (hopefully!)
If you enjoyed seeing Andy Nyman in Charlie Brooker’s Dead Set, and the more recent Ghost Stories (which gets another airing on BBC2 at 12.15am on the night between Xmas Eve and Xmas Day – although check schedules nearer the time, as they may change), you’ll love The Glass Man. I do hope this gets a physical Blu-ray and DVD release because it really deserves it.
The Glass Man is released on today on Amazon Prime, along with a number of other streaming services including Sky Store, Apple TV, iTunes, Google Play and YouTube.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 108 minutes
Release date: December 7th 2020
Studio: Tigermoth Motion Pictures
Format: 1.78:1
Rating: 9/10
Director: Cristian Solimeno
Producers: Paul Fournel, Bruce Melhuish, Cristian Solimeno
Screenplay: Cristian Solimeno
Music: Oli Newman
Cast:
Martin Pyrite: Andy Nyman
Pecco: James Cosmo
Julie Pyrite: Neve Campbell
Ian: Brett Allen
Toby Huxley / Prime Minister: Cristian Solimeno
Prime Minister’s wife: Amanda Ray-King
Ette: Polly Furnival
Janie: Lorraine Burroughs
Juliet: Lauren Cuthbertson
Radio News Reader: Josie D’Arby
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.