Hammer, out now

A modern re-imagining of Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

With over 100 film and stage versions of Stevenson’s 1886 novella, the challenge of finding anything new to say about Dr Jekyll must have been front of mind for director Joe Stephenson, and to his credit, this isn’t your run of the mill version of the horror classic.

The key to its success is Eddie Izzard as Nina Jekyll and her alter ego Rachel Hyde. Don’t expect an elaborate transformation into the monster – it’s all in the performance, and it’s a fun, sassy take. Rob (Scott Chambers) is the ex-con employed to take on care duties for Jekyll, much to estate manager Lindsay Duncan’s disgust, but all is not as it seems.

As the first production from the newly relaunched Hammer brand, this is an enjoyable contemporary take on the horror standard, helped no end by writer Dan Kelly-Mulhern’s knowing script and Blair Mowat’s larger-than-life score that flirts with the big, James Bernard music sound of Hammer’s heritage.

Verdict: Witty and fun; probably no one was crying out for another Jekyll and Hyde, but Izzard elevates budget constraints and has a great time. 8/10 

Nick Joy