THE LIMEHOUSE GOLEM is an odd, inconsistent beast. I liked that this murder-mystery takes place in a gritty, nasty vision of Victorian London: children being sold and horrifically abused, seedy backstreet businesses, no desirable place in society unless you’re lucky enough to be a man of means. Are you poor? Are you a woman? Are you “not of the marrying kind”? Say goodbye to any hopes of respect or freedom. The down and dirty historical kitchen sink drama portions of the film have real impact, as does the B-storyline in the music hall, but the murders and the mystery element are weirdly uncompelling, unfocussed and can’t decide whether it wants to be coy or gothically graphic from scene to scene. The cast are good (especially Olivia Cooke and Douglas Booth) but are often smothered by the muddled material, and the red herrings. SSP