Doctor Jekyll
While stories of duality and the “beast within” have always been a part of human history, since its writing Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde has captivated the imagination of audiences the world over, like Shelley’s Frankenstein a tangible and compelling tale of the dangers of a doctor’s hubris.
First presented to Victorian audiences in 1886 the story has been retold in many forms and served as the inspiration for later characters such as the Hulk and Two-Face, and now Hammer Films brings a modern reimagining from screenwriter Dan Kelly-Mulhern with Doctor Jekyll.
Disgraced pharmaceutical tycoon Doctor Nina Jekyll (Eddie Suzy Izzard) lives a life of seclusion after scandal forced her from the limelight; following an accident which has left her with limited mobility and the constant need of a cane to walk, she requires a live-in carer and brought in to interview for the post is Rob (Scott Chambers), recently released from prison having overcome his own addictions and desperately trying to restart his life.
Hired on a provisional basis but under constant scrutiny by Jekyll’s protective secretary (Lindsay Duncan), Rob is the absolute heart of the story, a young man trying to escape a past which keeps trying to drag him back, needing steady employment to ensure access to his estranged daughter and trying to maintain his position through Jekyll’s mood changes and put through hard situations and painful moral choices, the audience pulled along with him through his plight.
Little by little, cracks appear in the persona of Jekyll with memory lapses, conflicting instructions and different traits presented in different interactions, Izzard unsettling the viewer with subtle changes, aware of what her actions have caused and increasingly reliant on Rob who is led both by his desire to be the best person he can for his daughter and to be a friend to an increasingly desperate Nina.
The film at times more of a duet than an ensemble, while there are supporting players Doctor Jekyll revolves around the performances of Izzard and Chambers and when truly let loose the alternate persona of Rachel Hyde is a pleasure to watch, Izzard clearly loving the opportunity to show a wilder and more devilish side where both the fun and dangers of Hyde are displayed.
Hammer’s previous adaptations including The Two Faces of Dr Jekyll and Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde, director Joe Stephenson’s depiction brings a fresh feel however with a touch of the supernatural absent from Stevenson’s original novella and also, through flashback, links to an earlier Doctor Jekyll, the grandfather of Nina, whose experiments first unleashed the character of Hyde.
With a history of using the best of British talent it is good to see Hammer continuing to bring together the well-regarded Izzard and Lindsay Duncan with younger stars such as Chambers and Robyn Cara whose Maeve plays a smaller but impactful role, her interactions with Rob giving a rich history to their relationship, and it is wonderful to see this iconic British film studio rise again and we look forward to seeing more from their resurrection.
Doctor Jekyll is currently on general release
