The Principles of Lust

The Principles of Lust is a 2003 British drama film directed by Penny Woolcock based on the (unpublished)[1] novel 'The Zero-Sum Game' by Tim Cooke.[2]

Paul (Alec Newman) is a struggling writer and is driving his car to a meeting at an art gallery when he is involved in a collision with another vehicle. The other driver accuses Paul of being at fault, but when he shouts back, the other driver apologises and tells him his own car is not insured, and then persuades him to go for a drink in a local pub, introducing himself as Billy (Marc Warren).

Billy is accompanied by a young woman named Hole (Lara Clifton) who is a striptease performer at the pub. When Hole has finished her performance, Billy takes Paul into a back room of the pub and introduces him to his group of mates who live a life of drugs, sex, and violence.

The film then follows Paul as his life veers between a relationship with Juliette (Sienna Guillory) and her son, and the debauched excesses of wild nights out with Billy and Hole and their mates.

The Principles of Lust premiered 29 January 2003 at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. It was released on DVD 26 July 2004.