Theme: Jekyll and Hyde Themes

The story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde comes from the novella The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886) by Robert Louis Stevenson. The original story concerns the upstanding Dr Henry Jekyll who becomes fascinated with the nature of good and evil and the way society mandates that baser/evil urges be repressed. He invents a formula that allows his evil side to emerge and calls this other self Edward Hyde. However, Hyde becomes an uncontrollable force and rampages forth conducting mayhem and murder.

On film, the story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde remains the most adapted genre story ever and there have been multiple interpretations. These range from straight adaptations of the story to parodies, musicals, gender-flipped variations and adult versions, and various sons, daughters and grandchildren of Dr Jekyll.

The Jekyll/Hyde story has influenced a number of other films, including serving as the basis of The Incredible Hulk.

For more detail and an overview of the genre see the Theme Essay Jekyll and Hyde Films.