A physician named Doctor Henry Jekyll (Anthony Perkins) is tormented by abusive and perverted nightmares of sex and violence and does some dangerous experiments with cocaine to the point where he takes another life form by the name of Jack the Ripper Hyde who is an uncontrollable and vicious killer as he goes out and slays prostitutes which is the character of Jekyll's perverted nightmares.
News breaks out around the village about this incident yet they don't know how to find this Mr. Hyde but Dr. Jekyll tells the people that Mr. Hyde is very sick and needs his help.
Jekyll even fears for his wife Elisabeth (Glynis Barber) when he changes at night as he sees nightmares involving her and has to escape before she's his next victim.

The film is off to a fairly decent start as it looks very old fashioned like in which we spot a child on a stormy night spying on a prostitue in a barn with good shots on what she is doing by getting it on with a guy and then ends up getting caught with a wicked punishment on this boy boy and her laughing evilly. This moment looked nicely intense and mysterious.
There is a nice shot on Dr. Henry Jekyll waking up from a nightmare gasping for breath. This of course explains the unsolved mystery as to what we first saw and is well done.
Henry uses experimental drugs to do an experiment on a body with great shots on him doing an experiment with a body lying down and good shots on a dissecting knife touching someone's eye. The moments on all of this was well focused.
Afterwards he is in his own laboratory using this drug as an experiment with his pet monkey going nuts. Suddenly something wrong happens as this drew me in to see as to what the outcome would be in which there's a well focused shot on his face changing. A nice touch for this situation. Another great shot on Henry staring at himself in the mirror when he changes and wants to see himself.
A scene with a prostitute being pitted against Henry looked well done with her behalf by being intimidated a bit. During a certain violent moment there was a nice blue light shining on them. This moment for sure had a nice Jack the Ripper kind of feel.
There is also a nice dark shot on Henry with light shining on his eyes from the top of a building. Plus, there's a good shot of him behind another prostitute by him strangling her which looked quite tense.
Henry becomes introduced by an eccentric fellow named Johnny pestering him to bring him to a whorehouse as this was well energised and making me wonder if Henry himself will kill this person or not.
When he enters this place I spotted a nice scene that also involves Susannah acting savagely lustful towards him and he yet behaves roughly as all of this came together perfectly. A good lustful scene with Johnny and Susannah as it looked very insane like.
More moments throughout the story that Henry in his Hyde formation trying to murder prostitutes which looks well lit. Also in the story when all of this takes place there was a violent moment when he is pinned against someone else. The intensity was brought to a hype.
Later on, a great discussion sequence with Henry and his wife Elisabeth during a thunderstorm as it almost looks romantic but yet he acts tense and changing into his hyde form with good expressions acting disturbed by what is happening and groaning too which looked good. There's good hallucinations that involves him during this moment along with Susannah cackling. This for sure psyched me out wondering if he will murder her or not.
A nice shot on Elisabeth walking into a barn looking around and a perfect shot on Susannah cackling and acting crazy with Johnny being hung upside down. Henry shows nice menacing looks as Hyde when he creeps up with a dissecting knife ready to kill close to the end of the film. This kept me in suspense wondering if he will actually murder his loving wife this time. All of this looked powerful for a horror flick.
Bottom line: Oh yes a great retelling of the story Jekyll & Hyde as it still sets to look like an old fashioned horror flick with a simple story and not too overlong plot. Lots of good scenery and light effects which adds alot of artsy type of appeal to this horror flick. A well done tale (Although it's at times weak in some spots) with great performances by everyone all cast & crew that were involved with this piece and was hoping for a sequel after watching the ending but it never arose but I guess this was meant to have a beginning and en end to it.

The acting is nicely performed mainly by Anthony Perkins (Dr. Henry Jekyll / Jack 'The Ripper' Hyde) who shows he can carry of his Norman Bates type of character in this film showing he is totally versatile playing two characters bringing that coldness to his Hyde part and a calmness to his part. I greatly miss him as he was a gifted actor. He offered strong moments in certain scene's where he first acts vicious like he is about to rape someone and then acts calm. There is a scene where he slaps someone a bit but that looks a little low and lacking in his performance as the pace on his behalf needed to be picked up. However, his discussion together seemed a little smooth and intense at the same time which was perfect. Does well by getting blunt about what he has to say at a banquet type of area while having dinner with people showing good emotions. Shows nice menacing looks as Hyde when he creeps up with a dissecting knife ready to kill close to the end of the film.
Glynis Barber (Elisabeth Jekyll) brings charm to her part as the lovely and caring wife bringing an old fashioned likeness to her part. She does well by being spooked during the showdown of the story which was impressive. Shows off a nice healthy appeal as well as doing well with her lines and knowing on how to act calm during many situations.
Of course we can't forget about supporting actress Sarah Maur Thorp (Susannah) as an insane prostitute of Mr. Hyde's as she really had that cackly laugh to make herself worthy for this horror flick. She for sure showed off a ton of adrenaline into whatever she did here and was well remembered I can assure you if you watch the flick as she had a very strong presence.
Ben Cole (Johnny) deifnetely shows off a crazed and hyperative behavior making it clear that he might not be trustworthy at all. Has the right facial expressions and a perfect motive on whatever he does here. He deserves a gold star within everything that he did here.
Jill Melford (Flora) was very effective in her supporting role in which she shows off a somewhat wicked and mysterious charm to what she does especially during the beginning of her performance as a whorehouse owner. Had the perfect middle aged looks to her role and really got into character big time. One of the best in the cast.

There are numerous breast shots by actresses playing prostitutes.
Some guys are in the background of the film naked from a bathhouse.
A woman's pantyhose is cut open and her butt is revealed.

Numerous bloodied slit throats.

The music was strong and classical composed by French composer Frédéric Talgorn as he gave it that true old fashioned Jekyl & Hyde feel to it as it had the perfect chemistry to the storylines. Alot of high screeching violin sounds and good trombone playing during the first start of the film which blends in nicely as to what is going on. Plus good peaceful sounds for the necessary scene's offering a change in the violin music along with some flute playing too. Terrific low bass violin playing in other spots when the suggested horror will soon happen. Yes folks all in all it sounds very professional and effective throughout the whole flick.

Jack 'the Ripper' Hyde: You didn't really think I killed myself did ya???