The Limehouse Golem (2016)

“The public want blood. The Golem provides it.”  25 October 2019

The Limehouse Golem is a period mystery/thriller set in Victorian England just before the time of Jack the Ripper.  The Golem has committed a series of brutal murders (not unlike the Ripper), leaving tantalizing clues and mocking riddles for the police.  Scotland Yard Inspector John Kildare (Bill Nighy) is tasked with the seemingly impossible job of tracking down the Golem. Kildare develops a list of four possible suspects - one of whom has recently been killed and his widow, Lizzie Cree (Olivia Cooke),  is on trial for his murder. Kildare is convinced that by helping LIzzie, it may help unmask the Golem.

It’s difficult to write about a film like The Limehouse Golem without mentioning spoilers.  There’s a great twist at the end that I’ll do my best not to give away. I don’t think that mentioning the fact that there is a twist is a spoiler because it seems that all modern movies feature a twist near the finale.  While I’m usually pretty good at spotting movie twists, this one completely caught me off guard. I realize now that the clues were there, but like Kildare, I didn’t see them. 

As much as I enjoyed The Limehouse Golem, at first, I was put off by all the music hall nonsense.  I just about stop watching. After finishing the movie, I realize now how important these scenes are. They help establish mood and character vital to the plot.  

Visually, The Limehouse Golem is amazing.  Victorian London never looked so gloomy and dirty.  Sets, set design, costuming, lighting, and cinematography are all top notch.  Whether it’s the filthy streets, the stuffy library, and the raunchy music hall, each looks stunning it its own right and each is filmed beautifully.  The special effects also add a lot to the film. I’ve read that some people consider the blood and violence over-the-top and even gratuitous, but I couldn’t disagree more.  Murder is not a pretty thing - especially murders as gruesome as those committed by the Golem. The sudden and often unexpected violence adds immensely to the film’s overall aesthetic.  

I can’t say enough positives about the acting in this movie.  The three main actors, Nighy, Cooke, and Douglas Booth give fantastic performances.  I think I was as impressed with Booth as anyone. The extremes in his character are played to perfection.  Whether it’s performing in drag or defending himself from murder accusations, the acting is spot-on. The supporting cast is equally strong.

Finally, there’s a plot device used in The Limehouse Golem that I found particularly enjoyable and effective.  As Kildare considers each of his four suspects, he reads a portion of the killer's “diary” detailing a unique murder. As he reads, we see inside Kildare’s mind as he pictures each suspect commit the act.   It’s a unique and interesting means of telling the story.  

8/10