Cheap Edge of Sanity (Video) (Anthony Perkins, Glynis Barber) (Gérard Kikoïne) Price

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Customer Reviews of Edge of Sanity

If the porn was removed this film would be 5 minutes long.
Anthony Perkins of 'Psycho' fame plays a limping doctor who turns into the black-clad Jack the Ripper as a result of a monkey knocking over a chemical in his lab which brings out the unpleasant characteristics in people and animals alike. Whilst Perkins is good in his role and provides one or two memorable moments, this film is mainly nothing more than wall-to-wall filth, pornography and depravity from start to finish. And you can't help feeling that the Jekyl & Hyde title was just tacked on to help the film sell. This really doesn't have very much to do with the famous story, the film being little more than an excuse to show endless sleaze and rather cliched Victorian characters. What a waste of time.

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Anthony Perkins is awesome!
Of course, any role played by the late, great Anthony Perkins is going to be done to the utmost perfection. There is also an absolutely superb supporting cast in this film as well. Unfortunately, the screenplay itself is not worthy of such talent. The only thing good about this film is the actors themselves. Too bad they couldn't have been casted for a better film. Watch this movie only for its artistic value and for the superb performances. Don't, however, expect a great film....you'll be disappointed.

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Lavish take on the Jekyll & Hyde / Jack The Ripper tales
If you're a fan of the dark and twisted (with an artsy edge), then Edge Of Sanity will enthrall you. Others should know by the film's packaging summary that this is going to be a perverse ride and BEWARE. Dogging this film is not fair considering other realms into sexual depravity such as From Hell and Eyes Wide Shut are just grandiose eye candy.

While experimenting with anesthetics, Dr. Jekyll accidentally inhales fumes from an altered drug. This unleashes not only ability to act out his inhibitions, it unleashes repressed sexual feelings he had experienced as humiliation during his childhood. He then goes on a killing spree as Jack The Ripper, and becomes obsessed with a prostitute named Susannah that closely resembles the woman from his past.

Yes, Edge Of Sanity is sinister, twisted, perverse, and trashy. It's also lavish, elegant, and beautifully done. The cinematography is excellent (MGM's DVD is a vast improvement over the old VHS from the late 1980s), the costumes are a wow, and the music score is superb as well as appropriate to the scenes it enhances. A lot of imagination went into this production, and it's unfair to say it's an inappropriate film considering the many other "critically acclaimed" attempts at the dark side of sexuality and drug addiction.

Anthony Perkins chews the scenery well, playing his part of Jack Hyde to the hilt. It would be hard to think of any other actor that could have carried this part so well. Those who adored him in Psycho, Pretty Poison, and Crimes Of Passion will find a lot to love about his role in Edge Of Sanity.

I first viewed this film in the late 1980s on an unrated VHS edition, and MGM's DVD is most likely the closest to that version there is. I found no difference that I could notice between that original unrated version and this one, taking into consideration that MGM has been reissuing many obscure films like this one in their uncut forms (such as The Burning) though they have a rating listed. For film collectors of the dark and sinister, this is a nice addition and you'll be pleased with the great transfer. The only extras are a trailer and subtitles, but that's fine considering the low price for this DVD. I'm just thrilled that MGM has rescued Edge Of Sanity from obscurity for a whole new audience to discover and relish as well as make established fans like myself very, very happy.

Call it trash if you want to, but it's quality, wicked, ELEGANT trash and a fascinating tale to savor.