Doctor Jekyll is the latest offering from classic British goth horror/fantasy film makers Hammer Films. Based on the classic 1886 horror novella by Robert Louis Stevenson, director Joe Stevenson adds classic Hammer elements of camp pulp and twisted humour to the twenty-first century reinvention of the enduring tale of duality and the inter-play between good and evil.
Veteran comedian/actor/activist Eddie (also known as Suzy) Izzard stars as Nina Jekyll, a billionaire trans-woman scientist living a secluded life in her vast ancient stately home in the English countryside. Her ailing health means she needs help around the house and with the help of her officious housekeeper Sandra (Lindsay Duncan), they recruit a live-in carer. Against Sandra’s better judgement, Nina gives the job to a young, inexperienced, naive man, Rob (Scott Chambers). He’s just out of prison and urgently needs a job to satisfy his parole officer and gain access to his daughter, conceived with his junkie ex-girlfriend Maeve (Robyn Cara). Nina and Rob, however, get on well, despite their very different backgrounds, and at first everything runs smoothly. Rob however gradually finds Nina’s health symptoms and behaviour increasingly odd. Matters soon spiral out of control as her alter ego Rachel Hyde starts appearing, with devastating consequences.
Izzard is compelling as the multi-faceted Nina, and complemented well by Chambers as well as the rest of the talented cast who include Simon Callow, Jonathan Hyde and Morgan Watkins. The unpredictable plot is strong, as are the set design and soundtrack, but the film is let down by a script that’s sometimes weak as well as poor pacing.
The middle of the film runs quite slowly whereas the finale is so action-packed you’ll catch your breath. With Izzard in such fine form there was a missed opportunity to add in more classic Hammer touches of pulp, dark humour and camp, although fans of Hammer films will note various familiar vintage camera angles. There was a missed opportunity here to create another British classic in the vein of Saltburn or Sherlock. Nevertheless, it’s quite fun and entertaining.
DOCTOR JEKYLL will open in theaters and on demand beginning August 2, 2024.
Queerguru’s Contributing Editor Ris Fatah is a successful fashion/luxury business consultant (when he can be bothered) who divides and wastes his time between London and Ibiza. He is a lover of all things queer, feminist, and human rights in general. @ris.fatah
