The Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Rock ‘n Roll Musical
Yet another retelling of Robert Louis Stevenson’s split-personality novella comes to the screen – this time with rockin’ tunes – in THE DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE ROCK ‘N ROLL MUSICAL. The title says it all.
It begins in classic movie-musical style, panning in to Stevenson’s quaint countryside home, as he awakes from a horrible dream and sees visions of the characters who populate his nightmares: our cast. For a $55,000 budget, this opening is admirable. Flash-forward to the present day – or 2003, when this film first was released – and Dr. Jekyll (writer/producer/composer/makeup artist Alan Bernhoft) is mixing up something special. He drinks it, and you know what happens next: He becomes Mr. Hyde, who kind of looks like a cross between Meat Loaf and a hobo, and embarks on a killing spree.
Oh, and the characters sing. A lot. It’s in the grand rock-opera style of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW or TOMMY, with that exact 1970s vibe. The songs are competent, but not memorable. Often, the tunes make way for the filmmakers to throw in cheesy, ’80s Chroma key effects, where you’re left wondering whether you should laugh at it or with. As it went on, I still was uncertain how much of the goofiness was intentional, so I chose to laugh at it.
I’m afraid it has more ambition than to which it could live up, and the gimmick wears thin by the second song. But this film is a full 90 minutes, so prepare for many more of them, with Bernhoft giving it his all throughout. My attention quickly wavered, but did perk up later at a scene in a bar, where Hyde had his paws all over some whore in a black leather bra, singing about how he loves little girls. But my sudden reinterest had nothing to do with the bar or the song, I can assure you. –Rod Lott