Trailer
Plot summary
In Edinburgh, Ulster immigrants William Burke and William Hare are peddling cheese mold as a patent medicine, and the trick is discovered. They hide out at the inn kept by Hare's wife, Lucky, where a lodger has just died and the body must be moved. Over a drink, Fergus, who works for Danny McTavish, says Dr Robert Knox buys corpses for dissection. Burke and Hare smuggle the corpse through the city in a barrel, breaking its spine to fit, and Knox agrees to pay a good sum for each body they bring him. A try at grave-digging turns up a long-buried corpse and ends in a militia chase through the cemetery.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Burke and Hare (2010)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- David Tennant was originally cast in the role of William Hare, but he left the production before principal photography began and was replaced by Andy Serkis.
- The film was Landis's first feature release in twelve years, the last being 1998's Susan's Plan, and as of 2026 it is still his most recent film as director. It is also the final live-action film of Tim Curry, before his stroke in 2012 and his death in 2026.
- David Tennant was originally cast as William Hare in Burke & Hare, but he left the production before principal photography began and Andy Serkis was brought in to replace him.
- Burke & Hare gave Tim Curry his final live-action film role; he suffered a stroke in 2012 and eventually died in 2026.
- Burke & Hare was John Landis's first feature film release in 12 years, his previous one being Susan's Plan in 1998.
