I, Monster
| Industry | Film production |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1960s |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Films, including I, Monster (1971) |
I, Monster is a British horror movie from 1971, marking the feature film debut of director Stephen Weeks. It stars Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing and is adapted by Milton Subotsky from Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The film changes the protagonists' names to Dr. Charles Marlowe and Mr. Edward Blake. Produced by Amicus, it appeals to fans of the genre through its psychological thriller aspects.
Plot
Psychologist Charles Marlowe creates a drug designed to free his patients’ suppressed desires. When he experiments on himself, he transforms into the criminal Edward Blake, whose actions escalate into violence and murder. Marlowe’s lawyer, Utterson, initially suspects extortion but eventually uncovers the true nature of Blake.
Cast
- Christopher Lee as Marlowe / Blake
- Peter Cushing as Utterson
- Mike Raven as Enfield
- Richard Hurndall as Lanyon
- George Merritt as Poole
- Kenneth J. Warren as Deane
- Susan Jameson as Diane
- Marjie Lawrence as Annie
- Aimée Delamain as landlady (credited as Aimee Delamain)
- Michael Des Barres as boy in alley
Production
The cinematography was led by Moray Grant, while the musical score was composed by Carl Davis. Financial backing came from both British Lion and the NFFC. Although initially intended for a 3-D release utilizing the Pulfrich effect, this plan was abandoned prior to distribution. Director Peter Duffell declined involvement despite having previously collaborated with Amicus.
Differences from the source material
While the film largely adheres to Stevenson's original narrative, notable alterations include changing Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde’s names to Charles Marlowe and Edward Blake and portraying Marlowe as a Freudian psychotherapist rather than a medical doctor. The character Danvers Carew is omitted; instead, Marlowe kills a woman who rejected him, leaving his broken walking stick at the scene in a nod to Carew’s murder. The conclusion diverges: instead of Utterson and Poole finding Hyde dead by suicide, Blake tries to kill Utterson, who then kills Blake in self-defense. Following this, Blake’s face morphs back into Marlowe’s.
Box office
The movie did not achieve commercial success.
Critical
The Monthly Film Bulletin acknowledged Stephen Weeks's attempt to bring new perspective to a well-known story with authentic Victorian settings but criticized the repetitive screenplay and stiff acting, resulting in a film that serves more as a stylistic curiosity than a significant work.
Leslie Halliwell referred to it as an "interesting minor work."
The Radio Times Guide to Films gave it 2 out of 5 stars, commending Christopher Lee’s compelling performance and the atmospheric depiction of Victorian London but noting the director’s lack of experience and failure to develop complex themes led to a somewhat flat result.
Certain critics have praised the film for its faithful adaptation of the original novella.
Drew Hunt from Chicago Reader placed it among Christopher Lee’s top five performances.
Sources
External links
- I, Monster featured on BFI Screenonline