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Jekyll & Hyde

Name: Jekyll & Hyde
Director: David Wickes
Released: 1990
Duration: 96 min

Representation Score

1.8/10

Minimal

1990

PG-13

Director

David Wickes

Runtime

96 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

This adaptation of the classic Gothic tale emphasizes historical accuracy and Victorian social hierarchies over modern multi-layered complexity. The narrative structure upholds traditional values of morality and social stability. Gender and racial representation are limited by the period setting and adherence to classical genre conventions. Ultimately, the film focuses on the internal struggles within a rigid social framework, offering little in the way of diverse perspectives or character's ability to drive the story.

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Category Breakdown

Does Jekyll & Hyde have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or non-straight relationships. The story revolves around Jekyll's feelings for his sister-in-law, reinforcing traditional heterosexual norms.

How does Jekyll & Hyde portray gender?

Limited

Female characters mainly serve as moral guides or domestic figures. They influence Jekyll's psychological state but do not have the power to drive the scientific or supernatural plot.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Jekyll & Hyde?

Minimal

The cast is mostly white and Anglo-Saxon, reflecting the homogeneous society of Victorian London. There is no indication of diverse ethnic perspectives or color-blind casting.

How does Jekyll & Hyde represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story functions as a traditional moral cautionary tale. It emphasizes the conflict between scientific ambition and established ethical norms without critiquing institutions.

Does Jekyll & Hyde include disability representation?

Fair

Jekyll's transformation symbolizes a fractured psyche or loss of autonomy. However, it is portrayed as moral corruption rather than a lived experience of neurodivergence or disability.

Present on Screen

The film captures the historical realism and period atmosphere accurately.
The chemical transformation effectively symbolizes psychological fracture and loss of autonomy.

Limited or Absent

Female characters lack significant roles in driving the main plot.
The cast lacks ethnic diversity, reflecting a homogeneous view of the Victorian era.
The film does not explore non-heterosexual identities or diverse cultural perspectives.

Official Synopsis

Henry Jekyll is a troubled man. His wife died of pneumonia. He wants his sister-in-law, but her father forbids any contact. And his experiments into the dual nature of man have yielded a personality-splitting drug that he has tested on himself, changing him into an uninhibited brute who seeks violent and undignified pleasures. Jekyll quickly becomes addicted to the sordid freedom induced by the drug. He can commit the most enjoyably revolting deeds, then return to his laboratory and use an antidote to change back to his original form, so that his lofty persona remains untarnished.

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