After seeing them feature in a plentiful amount of Hammer Horror films, I feel like I’m coming to terms with the charms of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. Their ability to turn seemingly standard, flatlining stories of beasts and monsters into something acerbic and tense is a testament to their abilities as performers. With their combined efforts, they turn I, Monster, an adaptation of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, into something far better than it has any right to be. A forgotten piece of the Amicus era of 70s horror, I, Monster hides away pockets of brilliance as Dr Charles Marlow (Lee) experiments with a drug that will peel away his inhibitions.
The throws of gothic horror and Victorian settings make themselves very clear almost immediately. Stephen Weeks’ direction is articulate and simplistic, with a nice little touch thrown in here or there to convince the audience of his talents. His attention to detail, his cuts away from the nastier moments, it allows for the audience to imagine something far more grotesque than Weeks and his crew could ever hope to show. The restrictions of the period allow for accidental innovation, with the grimmest, gruesome scenes prying at the mind of the audience, rather than showing them what would, by today’s standards, look like a dated effect or shoddy prop. Weeks’ dedication to injecting fear through unconventional means makes for a thoroughly engaging narrative, a story that isn’t mired by the restrictions of its days’ technology.
The way he lurches from room to room in twisted agony gives great depth to his character. What the film lacks in pace it makes up for entirely in the twisted horrors Lee offers up.
I MONSTER
Lee, as expected, steals the show from everyone around him. How he uses that despicable, wry smile, the physicality in his performance is truly phenomenal. He devolves from the strange and methodical science-led devotion into something far crueller and more venomous. His intentions go from helping the progress of science to furthering his own sickened mind. The way he lurches from room to room in twisted agony gives great depth to his character. What the film lacks in pace it makes up for entirely in the twisted horrors Lee offers up. Toying with a mouse, attempting to prod his scalpel into its innocence, until the mouse is quite literally saved by the chimes of a bell. He provides not only a painfully perverted mind but a vain one also. He croons in front of his mirror, his gaunt figure coming to life as he descends into relying upon a drug that does away with his shyness and unease.
Indicator have done a phenomenal job here, touching up a relatively unknown piece, this re-release is incredibly polished. Featuring both the theatrical and directors cut of the film alongside a handful of little extras, I, Monster’s treatment is delightful. A perfect touch-up of a solid horror film, these are the releases that excite me, a crisp, polished release of a relatively unknown film that will, inevitably, draw in some new audience members. Director Stephen Weeks is on hand to offer up commentary on his work, a fascinating dialogue to be found on the choices he made in his original work, and for the Weeks fans out there, that should be more than enough incentive to pick up this remastering.
Short, sweet, with electrifying performances from our leading lads as they tap into the gothic horrors of this Amicus production. I, Monster will be a tremendous treat for British horror fans, a nice spin on the original charms of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. A very solid film, one that knows where its strengths lie, focusing in on them almost entirely. It has its moments of weakness, most films do, but the clunkier aspects shine through, especially in the rare moments that feature neither Lee nor Cushing. An atmospheric delight that showcases a crazed man shedding himself of diffidence in the face of personal gain, it’s a classic narrative supported greatly by two well-regarded horror veterans.
I, MONSTER IS OUT ON INDICATOR SERIES BLU-RAY
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