The Mystery of Edwin Drood is a novel by Charles Dickens that was left unfinished due to his death in 1870. The story revolves around the disappearance of the title character, Edwin Drood, and the suspicion that he has been murdered.
The novel has been adapted into several films, TV shows, and stage productions, one of which is the 1993 movie directed by Timothy Forder and starring Robert Powell as John Jasper, the opium-addicted choirmaster.
In this adaptation, John Jasper is obsessed with his young and beautiful music pupil, Rosa Bud (played by Gemma Craven). When Edwin Drood (played by Jonathan Phillips), his nephew and Rosa's fiancé, comes to town, Jasper becomes jealous and plots his murder.
The movie explores Jasper's opium addiction, which fuels his violent and obsessive behavior. He begins to see visions of Rosa and Edwin, and his desire for Rosa drives him to commit murder.
Throughout the movie, Jasper becomes increasingly unstable and delusional, and his obsession ultimately leads to his downfall. The mystery of Edwin Drood's disappearance is never fully solved, leaving the audience to wonder if Jasper was the true culprit.
The movie is a dark and haunting adaptation of Dickens' unfinished novel, featuring stunning performances and a captivating storyline that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats until the very end.