Dr Jekyll and Miss Osbourne

The common theory that mystery writers come up with the ending of their story first, then write their way backwards may or may not be true. But in the case of Arrow Video’s special edition of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Miss Obsbourne, starting with the supplements before watching the movie itself is most certainly the way to go. Particularly for those who only have a cursory knowledge of Polish director Walerian Borowczyk, who filmed himself into a corner with a trio of scandalous soft-core French exports in the 1970s.

DVD co-producer Michael Brooke provides a half-hour overview of Borowczyk’s career, complete with the director’s cinematic beginnings in animation (with a cut-paper style reminiscent of Terry Gilliam) through his far more notorious – and profitable – sexploitation films Immoral Tales and The Beast, which combined an art film aesthetic with copious amounts of sex, nudity and bestiality.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Miss Osbourne hits some of the same beats, but leans towards a more cultured sensibility (or perhaps a perversion of said culture). Filmed with undeniable artistic flair, the lighting and lens filters bathe the screen with a glow not dissimilar from DP Robert Richardson’s work with Martin Scorsese and Oliver Stone. And Borowczyk’s composes his shots in unconventional –sometimes frustrating ways, utilizing handheld camera work that self-consciously contradicts the Victorian period setting.

While there’s much to admire about the film’s visual approach, it’s the plot that is a “love it or leave it” affair, as is so often the case with Borowczyk’s work. Although based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, this version of Jekyll is built essentially from the framework of a slasher, with Dr. Jekyll’s (Udo Kier) engagement celebration interrupted by the appearance of his alter ego, Hyde (played by a different actor entirely), who murders most of the guests with his abnormally long and sharp penis.

The psychological implications are endless, but the idea itself is ridiculous and plays as such. Despite the casting of Kier and Patrick Magee (A Clockwork Orange), both actors who can make much out of very little, none of the characters feel like they exist in any known universe; which fits perfectly with the director’s oeuvre but is also an excuse for sloppy filmmaking in general. Put simply, it’s never quite clear if Borowczyk believes his own bullshit...or if the whole thing is a gag on grindhouse fans expecting straightforward T & A.

One thing he nails is the classic transformation scene, achieved with no special effects whatsoever: simply Kier sinking into a bathtub full of his special formula then rising out of the water as Hyde. It’s a chillingly effective and obviously well-thought out sequence. The rest of the film just rides on its coattails.

However, one couldn’t ask for a more impressive hi-def transfer or collection of extra material than Arrow’s Blu-ray / DVD set. A commentary track made of up edited interviews with Borowczyk and others cuts together surprisingly well. But the aforementioned interview with Michael Brooke gathers the most facts, supplemented with clips and stills from the work referenced. Phantasmagoria of the Interior runs for around 14 minutes and examines the film as it relates to a painting featured in the plot. Eyes That Listen focuses on the music while Return to Melies touches on the director’s fascination with early cinema.

But there’s more! Lots more, including a 1979 Borowczyk short accompanied by an even longer “tribute piece” made by filmmakers Marina and Alessa Peirro, who also provide and on-camera interview elsewhere, plus a pair of trailers with their own accompanying commentary and liner notes.