A couple honeymooning in Transylvania is attacked by a ruthless group of killers. With the husband dead, the new bride, Justine (Shirley Corrigan), finds safety in the home of her rescuer, Waldemar (Paul Naschy). But Justin learns of Waldemar's "illness" that causes him to turn into a werewolf when the moon is full. Justine is certain that her friend in London, Dr. Jekyll (Jack Taylor), may be able to help Waldemar. Will Dr. Jekyll's cure work? Or will more people die at the hands of the werewolf?
What Works:
What Doesn't Work:
In the end, I found Dr. Jekyll vs. the Werewolf to be a complete waste of time. I don't remember enjoying a single frame. And it's not cheesy enough to be bad in that "so bad it's good" sort of way. I really do try to enjoy Naschy's films. I'll keep trying, but for now, I'm not impressed.
What Works:
- Nothing. I can't think of anything in Dr. Jekyll vs. the Werewolf worth recommending. It's really quite bad. I haven't rated it a 1/10 because, in comparison, it's not as wretched as most of the movies I've rated at the very bottom.
What Doesn't Work:
- Paul Naschy. I realize that Naschy made a boatload of werewolf movies and is generally considered a cult icon. Why? I don't know. I've never understood the appeal of Naschy or his brand of werewolf. Naschy is one of the more unappealing "stars" of horror. He is terrible at playing the sympathetic figure, which I think is necessary for the character of the tormented werewolf. Also, Naschy is just too small to effectively play the role. His midget werewolf just doesn't work for me.
- The Acting. None of the acting, including Naschy, is very good. The worst is Corrigan as the stranded bride, Justine. She only appears capable of two emotions: fear, which she is terrible at playing and always ends in screaming, and sadness, which is equally annoying and always ends in crying. What range!
- The Lack of Anything Found in a Good Horror Movie. The things I look for in a horror movie include atmosphere, suspense, tension, and plot. You can forget about atmosphere, suspense, and tension. All the horror elements in Dr. Jekyll vs. the Werewolf are treated like everyday, common occurrences and nothing to be afraid of. In fact, the group who kills the husband is more menacing than the werewolf. As for plot, the movie does have one, but it makes so little sense and is filled with the most ridiculous sounding science that it's impossible to take seriously.
In the end, I found Dr. Jekyll vs. the Werewolf to be a complete waste of time. I don't remember enjoying a single frame. And it's not cheesy enough to be bad in that "so bad it's good" sort of way. I really do try to enjoy Naschy's films. I'll keep trying, but for now, I'm not impressed.