“A creative re-envisioning of a classic that often tells rather than shows”

Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is considered a literary classic, with its monstrous tale of man’s duality referenced throughout popular culture and reinterpreted in many forms over the years. However, the latest cinematic adaptation manages to bring something new to the story, transporting it from its original setting of London to Stevenson’s hometown of Edinburgh, where the film recently had its world premiere. Directed by Hope Dickson Leach, this newly imagined version of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde first began life as a play by the National Theatre of Scotland, who staged the production back in 2022. It centers on the friendship between two men, Gabriel Utterson (Lorn Macdonald) and Dr Henry Jekyll (Henry Pettigrew). When Utterson receives a letter from Jekyll requesting for his will to be changed, leaving everything to a “Mr Edward Hyde”— someone he has never even heard of—he finds himself taken aback. After learning that the man in question is suspect for multiple murders, Utterson becomes even more disturbed by his friend’s association with Hyde, desperate to understand the connection between the two.

The theatrical roots of this Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde are very much apparent in its reliance on its script. For much of the film, Jekyll’s transformation into Hyde is merely implied or shown in glimpses rather than fully revealed to either the characters or audience, such as when Utterson finds Jekyll’s cane broken in half at Hyde’s address. This decision to leave the scenes of Hyde’s brutality up to the imagination implies an established familiarity with the story’s major twist—that Jekyll and Hyde are, in fact, one and the same. It is also a frustrating choice for viewers who might expect to see more happen on-screen, particularly after the film’s dramatic opening sequence. The film tends to feel like there is a lot of talk and very little action, as much is established through conversations between characters. That said, Macdonald and Pettigrew’s scenes together are the most engaging, as Pettigrew plays the seemingly good-natured doctor with a forcefulness to him, something darker simmering underneath the surface.

Edinburgh itself also becomes a character in the film, with its familiar landmarks and locales such as Princes Street and Leith referenced throughout. A key plot point hinges on Utterson’s involvement in building the National Monument, a Grecian-style piece of architecture on Calton Hill only ever completed in part despite the ambitious plans that had been in place. While the use of these locations contributes to the film’s distinctive Scottish identity, it still remains accessible to audiences from elsewhere, since it is first and foremost a psychological drama. The visuals play a major role in establishing an ominous, atmospheric tone and highlight the city’s gothic features, such as dark, narrow passageways and misty graveyards in the dead of night. Opting to shoot it in black and white and using low-budget makeup effects for Hyde is an inspired choice, creating a stylistic feel that is reminiscent of early horror films.

One of the most visually memorable sequences occurs when a horrified Utterson realizes Hyde’s true identity. The audience sees these moments of terror play out not directly in front of him but in a close-up shot of Utterson’s face, watching the images flicker through his eyes as if projected onto a screen. A creative re-envisioning of a classic that often tells rather than shows, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde may not go on to become a definitive version of Stevenson’s story. Still, it offers a solid adaptation of the tale, thanks to its cast of seasoned actors and thoughtful interrogation of morality, power, and corruption through psychological tension.

Director: Hope Dickson Leach

Producers: National Theatre of Scotland, Selkie Productions

Cast: Lorn Macdonald, Henry Pettigrew, David Hayman, Alison Peebles, Peter Singh

Release Date: August 21, 2023 (world premiere)