Review by Lizzie Husher
Stars Ben Syder, Gareth David Lloyd,
Dominic Keating, Elizabeth Arends, William Huw | Written by Paul Bales
UK certification 12 | UK RRP £12.99 | DVD Region 2 | Runtime 86 minutes | Directed by Rachel Goldenberg
If you’re a film-maker and your plan is to cash-in on the popularity of the Hollywoodized high-kicking stunt-fest that is Guy Ritchie’s take on the Sherlock Holmes stories, your best bet would probably be to keep your own version as close to the books as possible. That way you might actually have an audience. This ‘mockbuster’ takes a different route, however, and instead introduces sea monsters, dinosaurs and robots to Conan Doyle’s Victorian London.
The straight-to-DVD Asylum-produced film brings us Holmes (newcomer Ben Syder) and his sidekick Watson (Gareth David Lloyd) as they try to solve the mystery of a series of strange monstrous happenings in the capital. Eventually the pair of detectives are lead to a pioneering mechanical scientist and madman whose evil intents threaten to ruin the very core of Victorian England.
It’s an oddity, that’s for sure. The effects are laughable; the concept of dinosaurs in the east-end slums silly, but it’s the actor that plays Holmes that’s the cause of the most bewilderment, as his effeminate mannerisms are out of place, and his dialogue is occasionally completely inaudible due to his strange intonation and lisp. (I decided against replaying the parts I didn’t catch, mind you).
At times it’s possible to appreciate a little quaint charm in the film but when you’re trying that hard to see it, it’s probably not worth it. This is the sort of fare that should be aired for kids on ITV early Saturday evening; perhaps only then it could be considered a fun distraction.
EXTRAS ★★★ Exile on Baker Street: A behind the scenes look at Sherlock Holmes; Outtakes; Director’s Commentary; and Trailer.