February 26, 1996 -- ``Mary Reilly'' puts a gothic romantic twist on the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde story. Most Jekyll and Hyde adaptations are bloody horror films. This one is different. It is subtle and introverted. All of the action is psychological.

The very talented John Malkovich (``In the Line of Fire'') plays the Jekyll-Hyde characters while Julia Roberts does a good job as the exploited Mary Reilly. Glenn Close does a nice turn as a tough madam, Mrs. Farraday.

Reilly, Jekyll's maid with a dark past of child abuse, falls in love with Dr. Jekyll. She is repulsed at first by his alter ego, Hyde, but eventually is attracted to him.

Reilly is trying to break free of the stifling sexual and class oppression of the time. At the same time she is breaking free of her shackles, she falls into a tragic romantic relationship. Reilly's mother dies and she is confronted by her abusive father after the funeral. Somehow, Reilly becomes stronger as she confronts this series of tragedies. She is enobled by them.

The story really revolves around Reilly more than it does Jekyll or Hyde. But the film also does a good job of exploring the nature of good and evil in the human soul and how each is an essential part of our natures.

The set and costume design are outstanding. The photography is dark and foggy. A sense of foreboding and decay permeates the film. The only weakness of the film is that it really isn't emotionally engaging. It is a little cool. It rates a B.

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