Why I think a book-accurate Strange case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde would not work
I constantly see on here and other sites of people complaining about how no Jekyll and Hyde adaptions are book accurate and how they NEED one because their tired of all the “shitty” ones
That’s grossly oversimplification of what it takes to make movies and not taking into account WHY they made the changes in the first place.
“Utterson is never in adaptions!”
Wrong, he is in a couple but since most of us already know the story, he serves very little purpose
And newsflash: A book accurate Utterson WOULD BE BORING, since he’s described as never smiling and mostly serious, in the book this is so we, as the reader, can fill his shoes via making the man more of a blank slate, but in a film, same problem with anime, having a bland main guy, just gives you a bland main guy.
“Hyde is not the Hulk!!!!”
This was only in TWO adaptions Van Helsingandleague of extraordinary gentlemen
Kindly stop making it out like hulk-Hyde is the rule in film and Bruce Banner and the Hulk are based on Jekyll and Hyde, so I see it as little more than a funny reference inside a reference, and..
That part of me which I had the power of projecting, had lately been much exercised and nourished; it had seemed to me of late as though the body of Edward Hyde had grown in stature, as though (when I wore that form) I were conscious of a more generous tide of blood; and I began to spy a danger that, if this were much prolonged, the balance of my nature might be permanently overthrown, the power of voluntary change be forfeited, and the character of Edward Hyde become irrevocably mine
From this we can gather that, as Jekyll exercised his evil and let his good side falter, that the personification of said evil would grow bigger, and as it took on a will of its own and if it had remained unchecked, very well could have grown to the giants we see in van helsing and Leagues.
“Hyde is not good looking or hideously ugly!”
Try translating that to film, the only way that I can see that working is if you NEVER show Hyde’s face, just show peoples reactions to him, which would be a bold move that might not even pay off.
Not to mention our main monsters almost never appear in the book and give very little to go off of, Jekyll is described as being neither wholly evil nor wholly good, a lukewarm person if you will, Hyde being nothing but a mask for him to wear and gives him a high and disconnects him from most if not all positive emotions, so it’s basically a dick turning into a bigger dick.
All his good supposed actions (we never really learn about HOW he got so many awards) would be called into question and you basically are left with, once again, a lukewarm take away, not knowing how to feel, and not in a good way if you get a poor actor and even a good one might find it hard.
And trying to turn a fifteen minute read into an hour+ film WITHOUT adding in padding sounds pretty hard…
So yeah, that’s why most book adaptions do not work, they either shot by shot try to remake the book and do not add anything new or fun to it, making it accurate, but pointless, what’s the point when we can just read the book and get the better experience since our own imagination is doing the storytelling, not someone else.
Or someone adds new stuff and people complain because they think it’s bad just because it’s different.
Give film, tv shows and webcomics a chance, let them be there own thing and if there bad or not your thing, then that’s fine, but don’t act like something is bad just because it’s different.
Literally every movie adaptation ever: Henry Jeckyll is just a poor victim of his evil side Mr Hyde!
The Actual Book: Henry Jeckyll is a weird fuck who turned himself into a monster man because he wanted to indulge in doing horrible things without fear of getting caught
Add the phantom of the Opera !
If you allow me-
…I’m not sure that take of Jekyll is completely accurate. In my opinion Hyde is a manifestation of Jekyll’s repressed homosexuality. I feel like Jekyll wanted to indulge in Gay Activities without guilt but it turned into him doing… anything without guilt. Like trampling a child. but idk.
[ ID: a book cover for the book “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Seek” by Anthony O'Neill. It is a black background with blue and gold boarders. Above the book’s title is the line “The Strange Case continues” and below the title is a blue silhouette of two men in top hats, facing away from each other. End ID ]
The Manor librarian has returned from her travels to take residence in the attic and oversee the library. We are ever so grateful for her return. She has brought so many spine-chilling tales with her. The skeletons will be absolutely tickled.
