STUDY IN TERROR, A

A STUDY IN TERROR REVIEWED

“A Study in Terror” is a proto Giallo. It was a Hammer knock-off that tried to bring violence to the world of Holmes. Having Sherlock and Watson fight Jack the Ripper provided for some edge to the changing face of British cinema. John Neville got the attention he deserved for playing Holmes. Hell, the modern era only remembers Williamson, Rathbone and Downey Jr. So, what is to take away from this odd patch of history? Realistic violence was still new in America as well as England. Mainland Europe and Japan had been steadily raising the sensory ante for the last decade, but there’s something to the titans of the West getting a swing at it. Plus, using the classical structure of Holmes to reframe the past provides for some interesting moments. My favorite is the young prostitute who goes out of her way to let potential clients know that she’s new on the job. It’s morbidly funny, but we know how this ends in a Ripper movie. The supporting cast is strong enough, but never makes a solid impression. Check this one out to see a darker side of Holmes.

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