Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde (1971)

I think I mentioned this film in an earlier blog but today I gave it proper watch after having it on my DVR for the last couple of months so I thought I would do a quick blog. 

This is a sex-swap Hammer horror take on The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson which has to be the granddaddy of all transformation fiction. The film was written by Brian Clemens who sadly died earlier this year and who wrote for many great TV shows including The Avengers and The Professionals. 

The story is set in Victorian London and sees workaholic scientist Dr. Jekyll begin work on an elixir of life using female hormones. The potion turns him into a beautiful but deadly woman whom he passes off as his sister 'Mrs Hyde' whenever anyone asks. Jekyll is forced to continue killing young women to continue his research and as Hyde becomes the dominant personality, she takes over the killing to sustain herself. The two personalities battle for their body and things reach a head over the Spencer family who live upstairs. Jekyll begins a friendship with doe-eyed Susan while Hyde falls for her brother Howard. Ultimately the police catch up with Jekyll after his latest killing and he falls to his death from a rooftop caught in mid-transformation for ever more while his hastily written confession burns in the lab. 

This is an entertaining Victorian mash-up which includes the elements of the real life stories of grave robbers Burke and Hare and Jack the Ripper which Jekyll becoming the feared Whitechapel killer. Although he isn't named as such (and is only referred to as The Ripper once) all the elements are there from the top hat and cloak and the removal of organs with surgical precision. I think there's even a Sweeney Todd reference. Sadly, we don't see Jekyll in drag after changing back but we do get Hyde in a dressing gown. Martine Beswick is brilliant as Hyde in a succession of red dresses (starting with a curtain) symbolizing her bloody birth, talents as a murderess and sexuality. Hyde is her own separate personality rather than being just Jekyll in female form. The first transformation is marvellous too as we seamlessly switch from one actor to another.

Sexual repression is often a theme with TF stories and here Hyde is the more sensual but after the transformations also wake Jekyll up to his feelings for Susan. There is a lovely moment though when Jekyll reaches out and touches Howard's face; confusing his feelings as Hyde becomes more dominant. 

This was an enjoyable movie overall.