Grave concerns over Burke and Hare film

THEY are Scotland's most famous serial killers, notorious for making money by selling off the bodies of their victims.

But a new film about the infamous duo Burke and Hare appears to have transformed the grisly real-life story into "Carry On Bodysnatching" after portraying the pair as wisecracking buffoons.

The first trailer for the film - which is yet to be screened anywhere but is due for release at the end of the month - has divided movie fans with its slapstick comedy tone, double entendres, and the quality of the accents in the film.

William Burke and William Hare were the Irish immigrants who became notorious bodysnatchers after coming to Edinburgh to work as labourers on the Union Canal.

They famously dreamt up the idea of earning money by selling bodies after a lodger of Hare's died owing him rent. The pair had learned of the huge demand for bodies needed by medical students and struck a deal with a leading surgeon Robert Knox, for his medical school.

Movie website message boards have been inundated with criticism about the trailer, which shows Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis portraying the Irish killers and Australian-raised actress Isla Fisher playing an Edinburgh prostitute who becomes the love interest of one of the murderers.

John Landis, the American director of cult movies An American Werewolf in London and The Blues Brothers, has recruited a star-studded ensemble for the film, including Bill Bailey, Christopher Lee, Tim Curry, Stephen Merchant and Ronnie Corbett.

But the film, shot on location in Edinburgh and Stirling ealier this year, has not been screened at any festivals in recent months and is thought to have been hastily re-edited in recent months.

The trailer, which has just been released by Ealing Studios, has been given a less than enthusiastic reception online.

One fan wrote on the www.slashfilm.com site: "I had assumed this would be better. that trailer felt very early-1990's straight to video."

Another, writing on www.chud.com, said: "Wat is it about American filmmakers and their complete inability to tell when an actor is using a terrible, terrible attempt at an Irish/Scottish accent?"

The Clash Music site's review of the trailer states: "The trailer exhibits a beautiful recreation of 19th century Edinburgh but woefully bad accents from the usually excellent Serkis and Pegg."

Alistair Harkness, The Scotsman's film critic, said: "Isla Fisher does seem to have committed another crime against the Scottish accent. It's possibly revenge for the American accents that Ewan McGregor and Gerard Butler have inflicted on Hollywood.

"You have to remember that Burke and Hare is a comedy and I don't think anyone will be taking it too seriously."

A spokeswoman for Ealing Studios said there were no plans as yet for a premiere ahead of the film's release on 29 October.