The umpteenth adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic story "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" and probably one of the worst and most clueless versions ever made. In fact, the only one I can recall that is worse is "The Adult Version of Jekyll and Hyde", but that was a no-budget sex movie and constantly showed an ugly naked fat guy on the screen. This movie had sufficient budget and even managed to attract "Psycho" star Anthony Perkins, but notwithstanding it remains a terrible waste of time. The synopsis caught my attention, as the plot attempts to link the Jekyll & Hyde saga to the notoriously unsolved Jack the Ripper murder-spree. Hammer Films accomplished something similar during the early 70's with "Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde", and the result was a sublime and hugely inventive horror movie. A hybrid between Jekyll and Hyde and Jack the Ripper must be a thrilling and intriguing concept, but unfortunately "Edge of Sanity" is a dud of a film. "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is a traditional and mostly psychological tale of terror, whereas this is an ordinary 80's slasher movie. It's supposed to revolve on the inner battle between good and evil, but "Edge of Sanity" is simply an excuse to depict vile and misogynist murders, pseudo-pornographic sleaze footage and drug abuse. Dr. Henry Jekyll is a happily married and brilliant medical scientist working on the development of a new and groundbreaking anesthetic. When his lab monkey knocks over some test tubes, Jekyll inhales the fumes and transforms into his malignant and depraved alter ego Jack Hyde. Hyde vividly remembers Jekyll's Freudian childhood traumas and uses them as an excuse to go out on the lurid London streets and sadistically butcher prostitutes. And when we say "sadistically", you may take this very literal. The murder sequences are extremely perverse and repulsive, with loads of hideously slit throats, mutilated corpses and nasty S&M attributes. It's also more than obvious that director Gérard Kikoïne has a past in the adult film industry. The sex scenes leave very little to the imagination and the orgies and hallucinations are even downright sordid, including bits and pieces of cane-masturbation, voyeurism, the Oedipus complex and crucifixion. It's truly revolting to witness how such a classic and brilliant story of genuine horror receives such a cheap and exploitative makeover! Shame on you, Mr. Perkins!
Review of Edge of Sanity
