Alicia I love this movie so much
Pluskylang Great Film overall
Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
Fleur Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.
Leofwine_draca This Canadian TV movie update of the classic horror story attempts to retell the story in a modern setting but ends up looking like a derivative episode of CSI meets LAW & ORDER. The only thing halfway good about this production is the presence of Scottish actor Dougray Scott playing the maladjusted scientist, but even Scott can't make headway in this dog's dinner of a production. There's no budget here, so most scenes take place in cheap office settings or dingy rooms. Far too much time is spent on boring courtroom drama at the climax, followed by a ridiculously predictable 'twist' ending which everyone will see coming a mile off.There's no gore or action to speak of. Hyde kills a couple of hookers in some badly disjointed scenes while his transformations are performed without the aid of any make up or special effects (aside from some creepy contact lenses in a few instances). It relies totally on Scott to act the part, but he just can't overcome the shortcomings of the brain-dead script to make this worth watching. It's one of those films where nothing happens and the only familiar faces (including Tom Skerritt as Jekyll's buddy) look distinctly embarrassed by their appearance.
Woodyanders Kindly physician Dr. Henry Jekyll (an excellent performance by Dougray Scott) is involved in experiments that unleash his more cocky and lethal serial killer alter ego Mr. Edward Hyde. Unable to repress his deadly and depraved alter ego, Jekyll turns himself over to the authorities and asks smart lawyer Claire Utterson (well played by Krista Bridges) to represent his unusual case in court. Director Paolo Barzman, working from a crafty script by Paul Margolis, smartly updates the story to a modern urban American setting, creates and sustains an appropriately somber mood, offers a neat meditation on the duality of good and evil in the human spirit, and handles the subject matter in a thoughtful, tasteful, and restrained way (the transformation scenes in particular are treated in a subtle and effective manner, with minimal make-up and a noted emphasis on Scott's exceptional acting). Scott simply excels in the juicy lead role: He brings a real frightening intensity to the supremely wicked Hyde and projects a properly tormented anguish as the guilt-ridden Jekyll. Moreover, Scott receives sturdy support from Tom Skerritt as concerned art gallery owner best friend Gabe Utterson, Danette Mackay as loyal housekeeper Mrs. Poole, and Cas Anvar as shrewd attorney D.A. McBride. Pierre Jodoin's slick cinematography gives the picture a pleasing polished look. FM Le Sieur's pulsating score hits the shuddery spot. The surprise twist ending is pretty chilling. Worth a watch.
Mattphesto As a borderline schizoid and fan of the original short story I'm always up for perusing any new J&H material. After catching this curio on Sky I felt compelled to comment. The usual themes of duality and the nature of guilt and morality are all present and correct. As is usual in most screen re-imaginings of Stephenson's tale an obligatory love-interest is tacked on in the form of a pretty female lawyer with whom Hyde confides. There's no real gratuitous violence or gore here, the horror seems to be attempting to stem from the psychological, unfortunately this never really gels together. As such, we're left with a fairly entertaining if unnecessary and understated (there's no real physical changes apparent between Henry & Edward) version of the familiar story. There's a fairly feeble 'twist' ending that anyone not recovering from recent cranial surgery should see coming at least a couple of furlongs off.5/10. P.S: For a vastly superior contemporary take on the tale viewers could do much worse than check out the recent BBC mini series 'Jekyll' starring James Nesbitt. It's available on DVD and well worth a watch.
kryziss Although I obviously know the concept of Jekyll and Hyde, this is the first full film I ever saw on the subject. The movie was decent to watch, but I have the feeling it's a bit superficial. Never was I actually scared, shocked or thrilled. It was all too normal for my taste.Another negative side to the film is its ending. I guess a minimum of 90% of the viewers will be able to guess the ending after seeing the prison interview where the lawyer gives Jekyll the syringe.Despite this negative critique, the movie also has its up side. The film's mildly entertaining.All in all decent cinematography, quite superficial narrative, reasonable acting. It's 'watcheable' just don't expect too much of it.
