I have to admit something up front. I’ve never been a big
fan of Euro-stylized films that seem more interested in just that as opposed to
telling a story. Certainly there have been exceptions to the rule but I
honestly can’t name one off the top of my head. I just felt I had to make the
point before saying that for me this film wasn’t the be all to end all that
Michael Brooke makes it out to be for me. I’m happy that for him this release
in this form met his expectations and delight. For me, not so much.
While most of us are already well aware of the classic novel
on which this movie is based, it gets a different treatment here than what has
come in the past. The film opens impressively with an eerie blue tone as a
young child runs through the streets to avoid a well clad gentleman chasing
her. He eventually catches up and brutally beats her within an inch of her
life. Then we quickly shoot off to the home of Dr. Jekyll where he and his soon
bride to be are in a romantic embrace trying to still their lust since they’re
about to host a party concerning their upcoming wedding.
Guests begin to arrive and conversation begins. Along the
way word of the child found outside comes up and concerns are discussed that
dwell off as new conversation topics arise. As the evening progresses different
guests begin to be attacked by someone in the house. The fact that no one
notices each time this happens Jekyll is nowhere to be found says a lot about said
guests. That these attacks can happen in a house that isn’t near mansion status
confounded me. Yes, I know you should suspend belief in a movie but between the
size of the house and the behavior of the guests I felt like the deaths of
these people was a way of thinning the herd.
The passing of each guests is discovered and discussed and
the weapon of destruction is apparently a long, curved penis with a point on
the end, shown at one point as one of the guests allows herself to be used by
Mr. Hyde as a way of getting back at her father who is tied up and forced to
watch. And not to worry, Hyde is an equal opportunity provider as he later
kills a man in the same fashion.
The twist in the story here, along with the way Hyde is
killing the guests of his alter ego, is that his wife to be has no problem with
most of it. When she discovers what her husband to be has been doing, she joins
in by dousing herself in the same manner he has been and becomes a female
version of sorts to his Mr. Hyde. A second twists from most films of this topic
has a different actor playing Hyde rather than a single actor in make up as has
been done in the past.
But as this story unfolds it isn’t the tale at all that has
had people talking about this production. Instead the talk focuses on the
cinematography and use of light and soft focus that has fans clamoring to watch
the movie. It’s the small amount of naked flesh that titillates and thrills
pre-teen males enough to have made them rent this movie years in the past. It’s
all under the guise of art film as opposed to exploitation with discussions of
the film’s director, Walerian Borowczyk, and his earlier works involving stop
motion animated pieces and short art films prior to this release.
Included in the extras are two of those short films as well
as a lengthy discussion of Borowczyk and his works from a producer for this DVD
and long-time fan I mentioned earlier, Michael Brooke. While the information
Brooke provides is interesting his delivery is very monotone and his enthusiasm
doesn’t quite come through. Several other interviews are included as well
making this the typical Arrow Video release, in other words a fantastically
rendered version of the film itself accompanied by what could arguably be said
to be the best collection of extras found in DVD releases today.
Some may thoroughly enjoy this movie and I don’t want to
have you walking away thinking this is the worst piece of film ever made. I
have little doubt that fans of this genre will walk away scratching their head
wondering why it was I didn’t enjoy it as much as they did, thus my disclaimer
at the start. For me I’m not likely to revisit this film in the future and
sitting through it once was more than enough for me. For others I suppose
repeat viewings are in store as I am sure they are for Mr. Brooke. In the end
it all depends on your own personal taste. For most this won’t be your cup of
tea.
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