The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire

Unlike the former three adaptations in the Hallmark series, this one makes no pretense of even loosely 'following' any of Conan Doyle's works. This is the only reason that 'The Whitechapel Vampire' can get away with near heresy. The story involves ritual, possible demonic, killings in a monastery in Whitechapel, which was only recently deprived of Jack the Ripper.

Sherlock Holmes is called in to investigate, but finds himself facing the possible unknown. A skeptic of anything supernatural, he fully believes that these 'vampire killings' can be proven the work of a human hand. Thus the story involves the Christian faith, and pagan superstition, as well as a medium, in attempts to satisfy viewers of all belief systems. What it does instead is trip over its own ambitions.

Christians like myself will resent that in the end, something the medium has said proves itself right. And skeptics won't like the 'divine intervention' at a key moment of the climax. As a full-length film, it's often hard to follow, and isn't entirely explained, but manages to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Frewer remains stereotyped, but it doesn't bleed through as often as in the first three adaptations. It is not the finest pastiche ever filmed but is worth seeing at least once.

From the opening few seconds it is immediately obvious that this is a TV movie. The production values scream this out. The music and sets all show their limitations pretty clearly, while the acting on display is very much of television standard. So from the get-go you are at least under no false impressions of the scope of this one and that's probably a good thing in the long run because this Sherlock Holmes mystery doesn't really ever ascend above the level of mediocre.

The story is about a series of murders at a monastery seemingly committed by a vampire in the same area as Jack the Ripper operated. One of the monastic Brothers believes that it is the work of a demon he claims to have encountered before in British Guyana called Desmondo. The 'agnostic' Holmes is sceptical from the outset regarding this explanation and sets about applying his famed logic to solving the murder-mystery.

Apparently this is not actually based on an Arthur Conan Doyle original story. This may go some way to explaining some of the more ambiguous supernatural material such as a possibly-maybe divine intervention moment towards the end. Despite a very promising set-up, it isn't a particularly exciting or well written story. The actor who played Holmes didn't seem right to me, on the other hand Dr Watson was portrayed in a textbook manner. But overall, the acting was sub-par amongst the side characters, with the character who played the police inspector spouting a truly dreadful 'Scottish' accent. Despite all this, it was an acceptable enough way of spending ninety minutes and I was interested enough to discover the solution to the mystery. But overall there was little in the way of actual atmosphere or inspiration in this one.

The skeptical Sherlock Holmes (Matt Frewer) and Dr. Watson (Kenneth Welsh) investigate some deaths in the monastery of Whitechapel attributed to a vampire. Sherlock Holmes refuses to believe in any type of action from the supernatural or any coincidence. As usual, there is a very logical conclusion of the story. This is the type of very verbalized movie, basically with no action. The viewer feels like being in a theater, with a stage on the screen. Therefore, the running time could be shorter. The viewer may also become a tired, especially if he is not fluent in English and needs to read the subtitles. But it is a good plot and the mystery and its resolution keep the attention along the whole story. My vote is six.

Canadian adaptation with a peculiar Matt Frewer as Sherlock as well as acceptable Kenneth Welsh as Watson , but unfairly faithful to the source material . A so-so rendition of the most famous sleuth originally created by Arthur Conan Doyle . Someone... or something... is murdering the monks at the abbey in Whitechapel . Then Sherlock Holmes (Matt Frewer) and Dr Watson (Kenneth Welsh) from their 223 Baker Street's house are contracted by several religious clients for the investigation of mysteries , enigmas and killings at a monastery . Rumor is that it's the work of a vampire brought back from a new mission in Guiana . In all cases, the victims have been found with two large puncture wounds on their necks . On the wall, written in blood, is usually a message like "As you have sinned against me, so shall I exact my revenge" . The prime suspect results to be the strange Dr. Chagas (Neville Edwards) , while Brother Marstoke (Shawn Larence) believes that the murders might be vengeance from Desmodo , a fiercesome demon from South America who frequently turns up as a giant vampire bat.

A mediocre Holmes entry retelling a fictitous plot , non-novella , in which Matt Frewer gives a sui-generis acting and there's really cheap and painfully made production values , mostly filmed in stage with little attention to period detail throughout . This time Holmes and Watson have been called to investigate at an abbey where occurs a series of grisly death rumoured to be caused by a vampire, but being paced in a bland static developing . This is an ordinary and thrilling outing with intrigue , suspense and chilling elements , but not being based on the splendid novels by Arthur Conan Doyle . It's a genuine ripping yarn with much thriller , sinister events and moody intrigue . The TV series gets mystery , tension, thrills , detective action and packs some exciting though brief surprises . It's unfortunately obvious that it was realized for television including lousy cinematography , an unknown cast without prestigious secondaries , and short budget , adding limited settings. Main characters Holmes and Watson are middlingly played , on the one hand , Matt Frewer gave an extremely ironical and inadequate acting , as he didn't seem right to me and he didn't ajusted to classic textbook , on the other hand Kenneth Welsh portrayed better his Watson role , following the cannon manner , as he played as Watson with intelligence and seriousness , he's the perfect counterpoint to Holmes, in contrast to the botcher , chapucer Watson played by hilarious Nigel Bruce in the classic series . Other important actors played much better these immortal characters . As Peter Cushing had played Holmes for Hammer Production in Terence Fisher's The Hound of the Baskerville, when in 1968 replaced Douglas Wilmer in the BBC serial and produced by William Sterling . As Peter Cushing's interpretations were excellent , although the best Sherlock is forever Basil Rathbone . The great Rathbone created his own character based on the classical personage and is praised for giving a great authenticity to the famous role . Cushing as well as Rathbone played Sherlock Holmes as an intelligent , obstinate , broody , pipesmoking sleuth , their acting is similar to Jeremy Brett for TV or Ronald Howard (starring in TV chapters of the 50s with Howard Marion Crawford as Watson) or Nicol Williamson (Seven-per-cent-solution by Herbert Ross) or Christopher Plummer (Murder by decree by Bob Clark) in cinema . In The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire (2002) shows up briefly Mistress Hudson , but neither Inspector Lestrade, nor Mycroft , Sherlock's brother , and , of course , Doctor Watson who here has an essential appearance.

The motion picture was middlingly directed by Rodney Gibbons . This Television artisan made other films about Sherlock : Royal scandal , The sign of the four , Hound of the Baskerville and this The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire (2002) . And he also directed ocassionally for cinema and making several Telefilms and TV episodes from notorious series , such as : Back to Sherwood , Lassie series , Secret pact , Wilder, The Neighbor , Deadly Isolation , Artificial lies , Owd Bob , Little men ,Stranger in the House, among others. Rating : 4.5 . Regular Sherlock Holmes adaptation.

It's really nice to have new Sherlock Holmes adaptions played by different actors. Every actor who played Sherlock Holmes and dr. Watson bring their own Aura to the parts. Give it a chance just enjoy it for what it. Makes more sense than the Robert Downey jr. Versions. Good atmosphere, fun to watch. I wish there were more than four.