A century before anybody heard the name Jack Sparrow, Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson wrote one of his most famous works, the pirate adventure, Treasure Island. Stevenson is perhaps also best known for the novella, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The book was a phenomenal success and within a year there were already stage plays of Dr. Jekyll being mounted. There have been countless adaptations since then and numerous films with most considering the 1931 production starring Fredric March to be the best. Mr. Hyde has also joined an elite club in being of the few movie monsters (along with Frankenstein, the Mummy and others) to meet Abbott and Costello. The influence of Stevenson's novella has even stretched into the world of comic books. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby certainly drew inspiration when they created the Incredible Hulk while Alan Moore included the character in his excellent League of Extraordinary Gentlemen series. We´ll just forget the movie version ever happened. I´d like to forget this version of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" happened too.
Dougray Scott plays the lead role in this modernized, low-budget film which originally premiered on cable television. Scott's Henry Jekyll is a Harvard-educated neurologist, well-respected and dedicated to saving the lives of his patients. He is also fascinated by how a seemingly good person can still have evil thoughts. While on a trip to the Amazon, Dr. Jekyll discovers a rare flower with psychotropic properties which the natives use to heal themselves. Jekyll takes samples back to his laboratory in an attempt to rid himself of his inner evil, believing this would be a breakthrough in healing the sick. Instead, Jekyll inadvertently creates a separate personality in Edward Hyde. As the film begins, we jump right into the middle of Hyde´s killing spree as he murders a prostitute in a dark alley.
Helpless as Hyde hijacks his body to commit terrible crimes, Jekyll turns to his best friend, Gabe Utterson (Tom Skerritt), the husband of a terminally-ill patient he once treated. Utterson points Jekyll in the direction of a young lawyer named Claire Wheaton (Krista Bridges). Jekyll just wants to be locked up, confessing his crimes to Claire and wishing to plead guilty. Initially disbelieving, Claire digs deeper into the lives of Jekyll and Hyde just as the police step up their investigation. Once Jekyll is arrested, Claire vows to defend him in court, feeling Jekyll should not be held responsible for Hyde´s crimes. Rounding out the main cast is Jekyll's housekeeper, Mrs. Poole (Danette Mackay), who suffers silently during her boss's affliction.
A century before anybody heard the name Jack Sparrow, Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson wrote one of his most famous works, the pirate adventure, Treasure Island. Stevenson is perhaps also best known for the novella, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The book was a phenomenal success and within a year there were already stage plays of Dr. Jekyll being mounted. There have been countless adaptations since then and numerous films with most considering the 1931 production starring Fredric March to be the best. Mr. Hyde has also joined an elite club in being of the few movie monsters (along with Frankenstein, the Mummy and others) to meet Abbott and Costello. The influence of Stevenson's novella has even stretched into the world of comic books. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby certainly drew inspiration when they created the Incredible Hulk while Alan Moore included the character in his excellent League of Extraordinary Gentlemen series. We´ll just forget the movie version ever happened. I´d like to forget this version of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" happened too.
Dougray Scott plays the lead role in this modernized, low-budget film which originally premiered on cable television. Scott's Henry Jekyll is a Harvard-educated neurologist, well-respected and dedicated to saving the lives of his patients. He is also fascinated by how a seemingly good person can still have evil thoughts. While on a trip to the Amazon, Dr. Jekyll discovers a rare flower with psychotropic properties which the natives use to heal themselves. Jekyll takes samples back to his laboratory in an attempt to rid himself of his inner evil, believing this would be a breakthrough in healing the sick. Instead, Jekyll inadvertently creates a separate personality in Edward Hyde. As the film begins, we jump right into the middle of Hyde´s killing spree as he murders a prostitute in a dark alley.
Helpless as Hyde hijacks his body to commit terrible crimes, Jekyll turns to his best friend, Gabe Utterson (Tom Skerritt), the husband of a terminally-ill patient he once treated. Utterson points Jekyll in the direction of a young lawyer named Claire Wheaton (Krista Bridges). Jekyll just wants to be locked up, confessing his crimes to Claire and wishing to plead guilty. Initially disbelieving, Claire digs deeper into the lives of Jekyll and Hyde just as the police step up their investigation. Once Jekyll is arrested, Claire vows to defend him in court, feeling Jekyll should not be held responsible for Hyde´s crimes. Rounding out the main cast is Jekyll's housekeeper, Mrs. Poole (Danette Mackay), who suffers silently during her boss's affliction.
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