Set in an uncertain time, but sometime in the future, in England.

Alex (Malcom McDowell) is a young offender who chooses to be cured by mind control whilst in prison - convicted for an extremely sick/violent rape/murder. He is conditioned to be repulsed by sex, violence and, for some reason, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

The movie begins by studying a violent youth alternate-class (droogs) who have adopted their own method of language, engage in ultra violence and a 'bit of the in-out' (sex).

"A media studies student's wet dream of a movie. As close to a pretentious art house orgasm that it is possible to get but still remaining dry afterwards."

On being released from prison after 'treatment', Alex finds an unforgiving society, even though he is now 'cured' from his criminal impulses. Unable to live at home, he is forced out on the streets.

A down-and-out recognizes him. Saving him from the other homeless, two police officers, who originally were part of Alex's droogie crime-circle whom he had betrayed, take him for a beating.

Staggering from the beating he received, he comes upon the house where he had earlier broken into to viciously rape a woman and beat a man for no reason in particular. Whilst he initially does not recognize him (Alex wore a mask and a long pointy nose during the attack) the man eventually realizes it is Alex when he sings 'Singing in the rain' - the song sung while he committed the attacks. Alex is drugged and, whilst having Beethoven played to him as torture, jumps from a window as he tries to 'snuff it.' He survives and ends up in hospital.

By this time, attitudes to the mind control he has been through has led to a policy change in the government and the minister attempts to ingratiate himself with Alex - Alex is now the victim - the man whose wife he had killed is 'put away' and no expense spared to set Alex up for life again...

"Shut your filthy hole you scum."

A triumph of horribility. A nasty-vicious scab of a movie which one cannot stop oneself from picking at to make it bleed profusely upon the carpet of all our comfortable well beingnesses. A stunning masterpiece of domestic horror.

Oh! the differing languages of youth, determined to etch their mark amongst peers by communicating via a special melody. Of a mind controlling police state willing to tweak the eye balls in their sockets of the young to prevent their continuance along the road of naughty offenditude.

I have, many a time in these volumes, expressed my complete bewitched enthusiasm for all of Kubrick's quintessential creations. This movie has triumphantly nothing of pleasure to offer it's viewers - Kubrick, the genius, has this time put nothing upon the stick of enticement other than a rotten carrot to lead us forwards!

The movie is truly nasty in places: I had to watch the entire 9th series of Friends again before the feeling came back to my goodwill to mankind muscles. Any TV scheduler who puts this movie on straight after It's a Wonderful life should be sent to bed without supper in my opinion.

In full droog uniform, including a stick.

Dogs, of course, will enjoy the rough and tough nature of the droogs, or at least will be impressed that they seem to have their walking boots on.

Cats will find the movie distressing as at least two cat-loving type women are attacked mindlessly.

Tortoises and turtles enjoy the movie for the droogs headgear. Actually, they like any movie with bowler hats in them as they dream of perching themselves on the heads of people and flying through the air...

"A media studies student's wet dream of a movie. As close to a pretentious art house orgasm that it is possible to get but still remaining dry afterwards."

"A wholesome piece of family entertainment. NOT!"

"This movie could not be made more uncomfortable even if I stuck a wriggling porcupine up my ass."

"I always got that reaction to Beethoven's Ninth too, my dear."

"Bitch, get this art house English shit off my television NOW. Fix me a Scooby snack with meat and pickles in or I'll smack someone."

"One of those few movies that make even less sense if you watch the subtitles. A joy!"

"Nightmares assured the next time a stranger in a bowler hat with his underpants on over his trousers, with a long pointy false nose and eye-mask knocks at your door."

Baked beans on toast with a whole roast chicken garnish.

5 horror filled minutes + 10 minutes of almost nudity.

There are times (examples: where the attacked man cross-examines Alex while giving him drugged wine, and, earlier, when a strange man talks to Alex in his bedroom) when there seems to be a strangeness overload - yes, to Art House screeching proportions but without the expressive hand movements.

Stanley Kubrick had this movie effectively banned in England following a string of apparently similar attacks (he would sue anyone who showed it). This is a horrible thought. It was released immediately on his death...

The movie is a very uncomfortable one, but one that makes very astute observations about how our society could (did?) evolve. Not a feel good movie in the slightest, and at the end even then the viewer is not let off the hook.