Review: The Limehouse Golem (2016)

London 1880. A series of murders attributed to a killer known as The Limehouse Golem terrorise the city. Inspector Kildare of Scotland Yard is investigating the murders and finds links to the murder of Sam Cree, whose wife Lizzie is on trial for the crime...

I love atmospheric period mysteries. For me, the high point of this type of film is the 1979 film Murder By Decree, a Sherlock Holmes film, hunting Jack The Ripper. While The Limehouse Golem has moments of similar atmosphere at times, it doesn't quite hit the same levels of tension and mystery. One of the reasons for this, is that this film chooses a rather different way. A lot of this film is told in flashback as we hear Lizzie relate her story to Kildare, who comes to suspect her husband of being involved with the crimes.

While we do see elements of the bloody deaths the film is never gratuitous with its violence. In part this is down to each suspect, asked to give a piece of their hand writing for comparison takes the role of the killer, speaking the lines as they carry the murderous deeds out, the camera lingering more on them and the aftermath rather than the murders being committed themselves.

However, the central mystery at the films heart, who is the Golem, is actually an easy one to work out. I will admit this was partly due to having seen a number of films with similar premises.

But that's not to say the film isn't enjoyable, despite this. The writer, Jane Goldman, adapting the novel by Peter Ackroyd, takes her time developing the story in such a way that despite the nature of the way the story is told, with numerous flashbacks, it is very easy to follow.

The direction from Juan Carlos Medina is good, keeping the tension high, especially towards the end, but also, thanks to the set design and cinematography is suitably moody and atmospheric. The music is suitably atmospheric too.

The cast are first rate. Bill Nighy is always watchable and here plays Kildare as an officer trying his best to solve the case and also, if possible, save a woman from being hung. There is good support from Douglas Booth as Dan Leno, a music hall star who helps Lizzie become a star via flashback and also a possible suspect, Eddie Marsden, known as Uncle who runs the music hall and Sam Reid as main suspect John Cree.

But the film belongs to Olivia Cooke as Lizzie. Perhaps best known as a horror star due to work on Bates Motel, The Quiet Ones and Ouija and maybe looking too young for her role here, gives a fantastic performance as a woman with her own secrets as it is her story being told here as well as that of the Golem mystery. It's a complex role and Cooke is tremendous.

As I said, I did figure out the mystery at the films heart.. However, despite this, I did enjoy this film a great deal. From the performances to the design to its atmosphere it is a well made, absorbing thriller/horror film that is well worth checking out.

Rating - 3/5