Film review: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

Robert Louis Stevenson’s gothic novella has been retold on the stage and screen countless times and is so familiar to us that the title itself has become part of our vernacular. The latest adaptation of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde comes from director Hope Dickson Leach, combining mediums in a bold hybrid vision, first shown as a live experience at Leith Theatre in collaboration with the National Theatre of Scotland. Reimagined as an Edinburgh-based noir, Lorn Macdonald stars as Gabriel Utterson, a legal practitioner who turns detective when his friend Dr. Jekyll (Henry Pettigrew) abruptly changes his will, leaving everything he owns to the mysterious Mr. Hyde.

 Shot in a crisp black and white, the monochromatic palette captures the cold chill of the Victorian cobblestoned city and reflects the rich greys of the moral quandary suffered by the conflicted protagonist. He is a decent hardworking young man trying to do the right thing but is pulled into a dark yarn of class wars and corruption. Penned by Leach along with screenwriter Vlad Butucea, the script smartly plays with the idea of how familiar we, the audience, are with the story, all-knowing in the ‘twist’ as Utterson’s inevitable descent takes shape.

 Crafted during lockdown, the nifty production design makes cunning use of its intimacy, and the theatrical turns help to elevate the piece. Pettigrew does a great job with the duality of his iconic part, his stature physically and mentally slipping into distress and vulnerability as he’s weighed down by his burden. A less-is-more approach is adopted in the spate of violent moments, which proves to be very effective from a budgetary standpoint but also given the clandestine nature of the film’s villain. In the leading role, Macdonald is in almost every scene of the film, and gives a terrific performance. Slowly transformative, his charm and expressiveness guide us masterfully through the shifting tones of the narrative.

 Bringing well-worn material back into the light in a unique and innovative way, Hope Dickson Leach’s version of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde is a stunning achievement. Beguiling in its skilful execution, the classic tale is reignited with themes of political greed and power that still feel very timely today.