Horror Extreme Movie Catalog

I came across this unusual film while walking in a video store that specializes in the kinds of movies not often found at your local Blockbuster.

This film is a rather loose and artistic take on the story of Jekyll & Hyde but also combines the story of Robert Louis Stevenson with the legend of Jack the Ripper. Its an unusal almalgamation, but a fascinating and compelling idea.

I watched this film and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a darkly artistic film which clashes the morality of the late Victorian era with the prevalent excesses of the 1980's.

In addition, the story is altered to which Jekyll doesn't overtly wish to explore the darker sided of mankind which is why he does the experiment in the first place. His initial experiments involve a new drug which can be used as an analgesic or anasthetic, the white powder which isn't even named in the film but what we all know to be cocaine. It is only through an accident in the lab that Jekyll discovers 'freebasing', and his subsequent addiction to the drug is what triggers the trasnformations and unleashes his alter ego.

Anthony Perkins is without a doubt in his element in this film, able to play a mild-mannered physician with a slight limp, and act with utter relish as his dark side is unleashed as Hyde.

what is interesting and what may put off some people is that the prostitutes in the film look as though they are dressed up like Madonna. I'll admit the film isn't perfect but those things don't take away from the film, they add to it. It's why the film is so unique, because obviously not everyone is going to like it, its the sort of film that only appeals to those individuals that like a little something different with their horror films.

Forget what the critics say - the only horror movies they ever like are the old black & whites anyway - this is a heck of an entertaining movie that isn't your typical Hollywood dreck. I only wish the ending were better... nonetheless, it still gets the big thumbs up in my book!