Review of The Limehouse Golem (2016) by Jenna I — 07 Nov 2017

A worthwhile watch for anyone interested into the art of art, and the dedication to vocation - interpret that as you will.

This of this as a poor man?s version of Nolan?s 2007 sleeper in the ?Dark Knight Trilogy? Director?s profile, ?The Prestige.? While ?The Limehouse Golem? doesn?t show seasoned audiences anything they won?t see coming a mile away, it does manage to keep you guessing - and interested for that matter - longer than compatible titles that have aged in a worse-for-wear fashion (cough cough Primal Fear cough cough).

Go in with no expectations, and you?ll have fun. Any other attitude while watching it will have you tapping your foot to get to the inevitable final reveal, where all cards are on the table. Rises above a lesser rating for its technical mastery that makes a ho-hum narrative with dubiously motivated characters go down smoothly. The camera work doesn?t conceal narrative devices, only the characters have secrets as mentioned, which makes the honest editing and framing of gorgeously hued sets & costume designs all the more pleasing.

Bottom line: it knows what its goals are and doesn?t promise to deliver anything short of achieving them, which is commendable even when we know this sort of dialogue-dance-themed story and aren?t fooled by the transparency of it all. Had it aimed for a meaning as rich as ?The Prestige? boasted so seemingly effortlessly, one may even feel disappointed, but Nighly?s turn is enough to keep your eyes fixed and attention lended to Golem?s dressed up popper in a prince?s story.