Runtime: 1 hr 34 mins

Starring: Ralph Bates, Martine Beswick, and Gerald Sim

Director: Roy Ward Baker

I would say this is Jekyll and Hyde adjacent, too.

It shares Dr. Henry Jekyll’s character with the original material, as well as our doctor experimenting with things better left alone.

There is also plenty of murder in this film, as well! This isn’t a plot point in the book, but it is something it shares with a few other films carrying Dr. Jekyll’s name.

Instead, what we have here is Dr. Jekyll attempting to find a source of eternal life, which, somehow, means extracting hormones from women.

??

??

I’m not sure I understand the science behind this. Anyway, we also have hints that Dr. Jekyll is the source of the Whitechapel murders, aka Jack the Ripper. I’m actually a little surprised it took someone that long to make that particular connection.

Just in case it was unclear, the idea of separating good from evil, human from monster, etc., is abandoned in favor of eternal life through hormones. I don’t think I’m spoiling anything if I tell you that instead of Jekyll shifting between good and evil, he shifts between man and woman. Throw in a little love square that centers around Jekyll, Hyde, and the brother and sister who live next door to them, and that’s our story.

There wasn’t even a will.

If there was, I’m certain Dr. Jekyll would leave me his cloak.

There really wasn’t anything that stood out about this one. It actually felt awkward all the way around. If you’re going on this particular Jekyll and Hyde journey with me or plan to catch a few films in the future, I would still give this one a try. It may not be in my top five films so far, but I’ve watched ones I enjoyed a whole lot less.

But, hey, at least I didn’t fall asleep!

6/10

Siemelle