A Study in Terror

A Study In Terror came on BBC1 during the early hours and I was very pleased I taped it. Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson investigate a series of murders, all prostitutes in the Whitechapel area of London. These murders are the responsibility of Jack the Ripper. Holmes nearly becomes a victim of the Ripper himself towards the end and he is killed in a fire, just after we find out who the Ripper is... This movie is very creepy at times, especially the foggy streets of London in the dark. Now to the excellent cast: John Neville makes a good Sherlock Holmes and Donald Houston plays Watson (although you can't beat Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce). These are joined by plenty of well known stars: Robert Morley, Carry-On favourite and EastEnder Barbara Windsor, a young Dame Judi Dench, Cecil Parker, Anthony Quale and Frank Finlay. A Study In Terror is a must for Sherlock Holmes and mystery fans. Excellent. Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

Sherlock Holmes (John Neville) and Dr. Watson join the hunt for the notorious serial killer, Jack the Ripper. Between this movie and "Murder by Decree", this is the superior film. More dark humor, a better Holmes, and much more of a horror aesthetic. One could argue it is not a horror film, but I would strongly disagree... early on, we see a man in black gloves (but no face) shove a dagger through the skull of a victim. Another is stabbed and left discarded in a tub. This is very much on the periphery of the giallo or slasher film. There is some similarity between this and "From Hell", also. Which of those two is better, that is hard to say. They are different animals. This one has more of the humor (albeit dark), but "From Hell" is the more grisly picture. They both have some of the royalty aspects, though this one invents the names of the royals rather than uses the actual suspects. I would recommend this film rather highly.

This is a great little thriller which featured the Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack The Ripper premise many years before the better known 'Murder By Decree'. John Neville (The X Files' "The Well-Manicured Man") makes a great Holmes, and Donald Houston plays a very good Watson. Robert Morley appears as Holmes' brother Mycroft, and the rest of the cast includes dependable character actors like Anthony Quale, Judi Dench, Frank Finlay, and even Barbara Windsor of "Carry On" fame. 'A Study In Terror' lacks the big budget excess of 'From Hell' and is all the better for it. For me it is a much more entertaining movie.

This is a model B-movie: fast-paced, engaging, atmospheric, full of great twists. Most "A" productions would only wish they were this good! Neville makes a suitably arrogant and surprisingly physical Holmes, and Houston is a perfect Dr.Watson. The director does wonders with an obviously low budget. Much, much better than the similar "Murder By Decree". (***)