Doctor Jekyll and the Werewolf Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		3.5

Doctor Jekyll and the Werewolf Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 20, 2024

Leon Klimovsky's "Doctor Jekyll and the Werewolf" (1972) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Mondo Macabro. The supplemental features on the release include archival program with Paul Naschy; two recent programs with actor character actor Jack Taylor; archival documentary by Victor Matellano; and more. In English or Spanish, with optional English subtitles. Region-Free.

Waldemar Daninsky is a character Paul Naschy played in several films, one of which is Leon Klimovsky’s Dr. Jekyll and the Werewolf. Naturally, the obvious question is: Does one need prior experience with these films to enjoy Dr. Jekyll and the Werewolf? No. Naschy simply moves Daninsky to a new setting and lets him loose.

Imre Kosta (Jose Marco) and his gorgeous wife Justine (Shirley Corrigan) arrive in a village somewhere in Transylvania where the former’s parents fell in love, started a family, and spent the rest of their lives. However, before Imre can properly summarize his family’s history for Justine, a couple of strangers attempt to steal their car. Moments later, a brawl breaks out and Imre is killed. The strangers target Justine too, but Waldemar appears and instantly changes their minds. Not too long after that, while still recovering from the horrific experience, Justine makes a shocking discovery -- during a full moon, against his wish, her savior changes into a werewolf. When later she learns from that her savior cannot control his ‘condition’, Justine arranges for them to meet Dr. Jekyll (Jack Taylor), at his office in London, as he is the only specialist with the knowledge to cure him. But when Dr. Jekyll begins working on Waldemar's ‘condition’, the treatment produces several unexpected complications.

Out of all the different films Naschy made about Daninsky, Dr. Jekyll and the Werewolf undoubtedly had the best potential to become a legit cult film and be accepted as such even by horror fans who did not think too highly of his work. It is because at least on paper it had a most intriguing story that instantly set the mind in standby mode. Unfortunately, while Naschy, who also produced the screenplay, and Klimovsky did not make a disappointing film, they could not deliver a cult film either.

So, why did a film that visits Transylvania, moves to London, and unites Dr. Jekyll and a cool-looking werewolf not turn out very special?

Dr. Jekyll and the Werewolf had a small budget, like virtually all films Naschy made, and as a result, it could not take advantage of the many possibilities its story promises. In fact, it is fair to write that Dr. Jekyll and the Werewolf had a hard time doing even the minimum a genre film featuring a classic character like Dr. Jekyll should be expected to do. Indeed, while it produces some decent visuals and atmosphere, it operates with limited imagination, effectively preventing it from surprising its audience with intriguing genre material. This is why the only legitimately exciting material features Naschy’s transformations and quick close-ups of the werewolf’s furry head.

In the past, Dr. Jekyll and the Werewolf was presented to horror aficionados in several different versions. Mondo Macabro’s Blu-ray release presents two versions: a Spanish version, which is approximately 86 minutes long, and a rare reconstructed export version, which is approximately 89 minutes long. The following text is included on the Blu-ray release:

“It appears that Dr. Jekyll and the Werewolf was released in at least four different versions. The original Spanish cut, with “clothed” scenes; a version released in the U.S. with some “clothed” and some “naked” scenes; a version released in the UK with some scenes cut; and a version released in Germany with all of the stronger scenes intact.

The current owner of the film only has access to the Spanish version. Despite a long search, we were unable to locate usable 35mm materials for all the cut or altered scenes. To recreate the most complete version of the film, as presented here, we had to use a mixture of 16mm footage and clips from analogue and digital video sources of variable quality”.

Doctor Jekyll and the Werewolf Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.67:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Doctor Jekyll and the Werewolf arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Mondo Macabro.

The release presents two versions of the film: a shorter Spanish version, which is approximately 86 minutes long, and a longer rare export cut, which is approximately 89 minutes long. Both are fully restored. However, the longer version is a reconstruction that uses material from secondary sources. It is the one I chose to view.

Despite the few noticeable drops in quality, I liked the restoration and reconstruction of the longer version a lot. Excluding the short bits that were sourced from secondary sources, all visuals boast either good or very good delineation, clarity, and depth. Darker material, of which there is plenty, is managed very well, too. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Grain is nicely exposed and resolved, though in a few areas it could look a bit more convincing. Color balance looks very good. I feel that saturation can be improved, and with it the dynamic range of the visuals as well, but I was very pleased with the quality of the entire film on my system. Image stability is excellent. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographilocal location).

Doctor Jekyll and the Werewolf Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two versions of Doctor Jekyll and the Werewolf on this release. The shorter Spanish version can be viewed with Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 tracks, with optional English subtitles. The longer export version can be viewed only with an English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 tracks.

It is pretty easy to tell that some actors utter their lines in English and some in Spanish. I viewed the export version with the English track, but also tested the Spanish track on the shorter Spanish version. As far as their dynamic strength is concerned, the two tracks are very similar. The dialog is decent on both, but it is difficult to tell which one is more appropriate. I lean toward the English track, but possibly only because I could tell that a lot of exchanges featured words in English. Obviously, if you choose the export version, you cannot use the Spanish track. I did not encounter any serious age-related anomalies to report in our review.

Doctor Jekyll and the Werewolf Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Paul Naschy on Dr. Jekyll - in this archival program, Paul Naschy discusses the enormous impact the classic American monster films had on him, how he fell in love with the werewolf and why it kept reappearing in his work, and Dr. Jekyll's literary and cinematic profiles. Naschy also addresses the conception and production of Doctor Jekyll and the Werewolf, as well as main conflicts that are depicted in it. The program was produced in 2002. In Spanish, with English subtitles. (19 min).

• Interview with Sergio Molina - in this recent program, Sergio Molina, son of Paul Naschy, discusses the production of Doctor Jekyll and the Werewolf, his father's admiration for the work of Leon Klimovsky and their professional relationship, the significance of Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man for his father's creativity, etc. Also, there are some interesting comments about the depiction of Dr. Jekyll. In Spanish, with English subtitles. (23 min).

• "Jack Taylor, Testiglio del Fantastico" - in this archival documentary, character actor Jack Taylor, born as George Brown Randall, discusses his background and cinematic legacy. The documentary was produced by Diego Lopez in 2018. In Spanish, with English subtitles. (32 min).

• Jack Taylor, on "Fantaterror" - in this recent program, Jack Taylor discusses his work with cult director Jess Franco (the two made eight films) and some of the controversy that surrounded them, as well as his involvement with Doctor Jekyll and the Werewolf and memories of Paul Naschy and his creativity. (Taylor describes Naschy as a "visionary"). Several other genre films are addressed, too. In Spanish, with English subtitles. (17 min).

• Filmmaker Victor Matellano on the Career of Leon Klimovsky - in this recent program, filmmaker Victor Matellano discusses the reasons Leon Klimovsky relocated from Argentina to Spain and the evolution of his career and cinematic work. In Spanish, with English subtitles. (31 min).

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by the NaschyCast.

Doctor Jekyll and the Werewolf Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A possessed Paul Naschy roaming Transylvania and some of the seediest areas of London sounds like a great recipe for a great cult film. Regrettably, Doctor Jekyll and the Werewolf does not evolve into such a film because it was made with a restricted imagination and little money. Nevertheless, I had a decent time with it, but for well over an hour I kept hoping that it would become an outrageous spectacle of the kind Naschy easily could and should have scripted and directed. Mondo Macabro's release introduces two recently restored versions of Doctor Jekyll and the Werewolf. The longer one is a good reconstruction, too. The release also has a terrific selection of bonus features. RECOMMENDED.