Review of The Limehouse Golem (2016) by Jonathan B — 20 Dec 2018

It's a shame that this Victorian shocker couldn't score higher for me as there is a great deal that I really enjoyed. Notably the super cast and the wonderfully atmospheric realisation of the period setting which really hits the spot.

This is a gruesome murder mystery in which troubled policeman, Bill Nighy, investigates the case of a Jack-the-Ripper style serial killer who is running amok in the slums of Limehouse. During his investigations, he becomes fascinated by and infatuated with a young actress who stands accused of poisoning her husband, who he suspects is the killer he is seeking.

The plot weaves in references to real historical figures Karl Marx and more prominently, the music hall actor Dan Leno. It's all good, grisly fun but is sadly let down but a rather hackneyed plot twist that must surely be pretty obvious to all but the most naive of viewers.

I also found Olivia Cooks's character Lizzie Cree too much like hard work to feel the necessary sympathy and empathy with and Nighy's Kildare just a bit too gullible to be credible.