Doctor Jekyll is a 2023 British gothic horror film directed by Joe Stephenson, written by Dan Kelly-Mulhern, and starring Eddie Izzard as the title character. It is an adaptation of the novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.
| Doctor Jekyll | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Joe Stephenson |
| Written by | Dan Kelly-Mulhern |
| Based on | Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Birgit Dierken |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Blair Mowat |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Hammer Studios |
Release dates |
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Running time | 89 minutes[1] |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $21,524[2] |
The film had its world premiere at FrightFest on 25 August 2023 and was released in the United Kingdom on 27 October 2023.
Premise
Dr. Nina Jekyll pushed the glass ceiling of the pharmaceutical industry to its limits, rubbing shoulders with the elite, becoming a household name and making herself a fortune. But her success came at a cost, and after scandal forced her out of the spotlight she now lives in seclusion with her demons. In need of an assistant, Jekyll hires ex-con Rob, straight out of rehab and trying to get back on his feet. It soon becomes clear that there are evil forces at play and Rob's wits are tested in a game of cat and mouse with the Devil in all its forms.
— Metro International Entertainment[3]
Cast
- Eddie Izzard as Dr. Nina Jekyll / Rachel Hyde[4][5]
- Scott Chambers as Rob[6]
- Lindsay Duncan as Sandra Poole
- Robyn Cara as Maeve
- Jonathan Hyde as Henry Jekyll
- Morgan Watkins as Ewan
- Simon Callow as Journalist
- Tony Jayawardena as Malcolm
- Isabella Inchbald as Nina's Mother
Production
The project was announced in February 2022, with Eddie Izzard and Scott Chambers revealed to be starring, with Joe Stephenson attached as director, and Dan Kelly-Mulhern making his screenwriting debut. Stephenson, Guy de Beaujeu, Liam Coutts and Christian Angermayer were unveiled as producers, along with B Good Picture Company and Fluidity Films as the production companies.[7] In March, Lindsay Duncan and Simon Callow were revealed to have joined the cast, alongside more of the supporting cast. Principal photography also concluded that month.[8]
Release
In March 2022, Hammer Studios acquired UK distribution rights.[6]Doctor Jekyll had its worldwide premiere at FrightFest on 25 August 2023.[9][5] It was released in the United Kingdom on 27 October 2023.[10]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 38% of 20 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5/10.[11]
The film proved divisive on its initial release in UK cinemas. Little White Lies (magazine) gave the film 4 *'s for enjoyment and wrote, "the sort of horror that has you laughing one minute and throwing your popcorn in the air in fright the next. Izzard also subverts the fear of gender that has long haunted horror cinema by both playing to and away from the ongoing ‘trans scare’. It looks like Hammer has returned from the dead"[12] HeyUGuys, wrote "Stephenson is a great upcoming director who has created a bloody good campy romp here... Doctor Jekyll is a rollicking brilliant time" while[13] Metro (British Newspaper) wrote that the film "may become stuff of cult movie legend".
However, Todd Gilchrist of Variety wrote, " Though Stephenson offers plenty of suitably spooky imagery, and importantly finds a more-than-game collaborator in Izzard as both the good and evil doctor, Doctor Jekyll is meandering and empty, an update with neither enough loyalty to its source material or imagination to make its departures meaningful".[14]
