The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll

The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll

Year: 1960

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: English

Director: Terence Fisher

HorrorHorror

After a series of scientific experiments aimed at unlocking the inner self and controlling human personalities, the benevolent Dr. Henry Jekyll inadvertently frees his darker alter ego, Edward Hyde, a sadistic, murderous creature whose sole pleasure is killing. The story pits Jekyll’s kindness against Hyde’s cruelty.

The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll (1960) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll (1960) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In fog‑shrouded 1874 London, a city of polished salons and shadowed alleys, the atmosphere hums with the restless energy of scientific progress and Victorian propriety. Here, Dr. Henry Jekyll is a respected physician whose calm demeanor masks an insatiable curiosity about the hidden chambers of the human mind. His world is one of genteel gatherings, whispered intrigues, and the ever‑present question of what lies beneath a gentleman’s courteous veneer.

Compelled by a blend of ambition and personal vanity, Jekyll delves into a daring experiment: a chemical formula designed to peel back the layers of personality and reveal an inner self. The promise of unlocking that secret is intoxicating, yet the very act of probing the psyche hints at a jagged edge, suggesting that the pursuit of knowledge may stir forces that are harder to contain than the scientist anticipates. This tension between enlightenment and danger sets the film’s gothic tone, where intellect collides with the unknown.

Around him, Kitty Jekyll navigates the delicate balance of marriage, societal expectation, and growing unease as the boundaries of her husband’s work begin to blur. Meanwhile, Paul Allen, a charismatic friend who often leans on Jekyll’s generosity, adds another layer of complexity, intertwining personal loyalties with the subtle currents of ambition. Their intertwined relationships create a charged backdrop, where every polite conversation could conceal a deeper, unspoken conflict.

The story unfolds as a haunting meditation on duality, inviting viewers to wonder how thin the line truly is between brilliance and madness. Amidst the polished veneer of high society, an unseen darkness threatens to surface, promising a tension‑laden journey that questions whether the pursuit of the hidden self can ever be safely restrained.

Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 09:15

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Gothic Psychological Horror Movies like The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll

Stories where repressed desires manifest as monstrous alter egos.If you liked The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll, you'll find more chilling tales of split personalities and scientific overreach here. This list features movies that explore the darkness within, set against atmospheric gothic backdrops, where characters confront their monstrous alter egos with bleak consequences.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically follows a protagonist's well-intentioned but flawed experiment or pursuit that inadvertently liberates a repressed, violent identity. This alter ego acts out the protagonist's darkest impulses, leading to a series of crimes and a desperate, losing battle for control. The story arc is a tragic downward spiral towards psychological and physical destruction.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together by their shared focus on the psychological horror of duality, a consistently dark and tense tone, and a steady pacing that builds towards an inescapably bleak conclusion. They create a cohesive experience of grim, atmospheric dread centered on the theme of the monster within.

Movies about Scientific Hubris like The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll

Experiments that unlock humanity's worst instincts, leading to tragedy.Explore more movies like The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll where ambitious experiments lead to disaster. These films feature chilling narratives about the dangers of playing God, the loss of control, and the tragic fallout from crossing the boundaries of nature, often with a high emotional weight.

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Narrative Summary

The plot follows a predictable yet compelling pattern: a breakthrough in science or medicine promises a great benefit but instead reveals a horrific flaw, typically within human nature itself. The inventor becomes the first victim of their creation, losing everything—their reputation, loved ones, and often their life—in a cascade of violence and despair, serving as a cautionary tale.

Why These Movies?

This grouping is defined by a central theme of fatal ambition, a high-stakes narrative where control is lost, and a uniformly dark, serious tone. The pacing is steady, building tension as the experiment fails, and the endings are almost always tragic, emphasizing the heavy price of hubris.

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The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll Summary

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The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll Summary

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The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll

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