From Hell (DVD)

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From Hell is a re-examination of the infamous and unsolved Jack the Ripper murders in Whitechapel. To this day, he remains the most notorious and enigmatic serial killer in history. Over 100 years after he committed five heinous, ritualistic murders during a ten week span in the Autumn of 1888, creating a frenzied atmosphere of gossip, rumour and terror, our continued fascination with him should not be that surprising when ...
...the Ripper story that stemmed from the climate of 1880's East London. The city's vast disparity of wealth produced masses of poor and destitute people, many of whom congregated in the area which the murders took place. The dirty seamy slum was a haven for drug use, prostitution, alcoholism and random street crime.

As with most of their previous inner-city dramas, and in particular their 1993 debut, Menace11 Society, this was a ghetto ... more

The film I am about to review is a special favourite of mine not because it is a brilliant film but because part of it is filmed in Hradcany which is the heart of the castle quarter in Prague, it stars Johnny Depp and it is a film loosely based on the story of Jack the Ripper. Is this rendition as gripping as it's predecessor was compelling? Let's take a look.....

From Hell is a re-examination of the infamous and unsolved Jack the Ripper murders in Whitechapel. To this day, he remains the most notorious and enigmatic serial killer in history. Over 100 years after he committed five heinous, ritualistic murders during a ten week span in the Autumn of 1888, creating a frenzied atmosphere of gossip, rumour and terror, our continued fascination with him should not be that surprising when you consider that his legend ushered in a new era of pulp press. Before Jack the Ripper, there were a few hundred newspapers in London. At the height of his murder spree, thousands of additional papers emerged. Jack the Ripper, created in part by the press, became the first tabloid star.

But like Dracula, perhaps no one could imagine the story returning to the screens for the umpteenth time with anything approaching success. And like Dracula, hadn't Jack the Ripper been done to death? So why do a remake?

Directors Allen and Albert Hughes had an affinity for the Ripper story that stemmed from the climate of 1880's East London. The city's vast disparity of wealth produced masses of poor and destitute people, many of whom congregated in the area which the murders took place. The dirty seamy slum was a haven for drug use, prostitution, alcoholism and random street crime.

As with most of their previous inner-city dramas, and in particular their 1993 debut, Menace11 Society, this was a ghetto story. It concerns poverty, violence and corruption, which are themes they like to deal with in their movies. What also intrigued both brothers was the psychology of Jack the Ripper, his behaviour and the hysteria he incited. They also thought that previous accounts of the story were antiseptic and told from the eyes of the prim upper class. They wanted to reveal the story from the perspective of the people who lived in squalor, in the neighbourhood where the terror was inflicted.

Although, it has been said that the film was influenced by Bob Clarke's 1979 Murder by Decree, and following an almost identical trail, From Hell, based on Alan and Eddie Campbell's graphic novel of the same name, the movie offers a different take on the whole thing by primarily focusing on people trying to survive the grimmest of circumstances.

It is the story of five impoverished prostitutes who share a desperate friendship, who are drawn closer together as their ranks are terrorised by a gruesome murderer. They exist by earning a meagre living with their bodies in a society that on the one hand dishonours them, and on the other feeds upon them. Owning virtually nothing of value, they are under threat from the very thing that would steal their only personal possession. And that is life.

Mary Kelly (Heather Graham) and her friends live on the edge of starvation in a horrible slum. Each day is a struggle. having a place to sleep is a luxury. The only thing that sustains Mary is her dream of returning to Ireland, where she lived as a young girl.

The theme of hardship lies at the heart of one of the establishing scenes in the movie. The women awake after a fitful night's sleep tied together on a bench, which is the only uncomfortable option for those unable to afford a bed. The landlord arrives in the morning to untie the rope and return them to the streets where they must earn money for food and shelter for the coming night. It is a harsh, unrelenting circle of survival. The lives of these women are gruesome and dark. Their day to day existence is always under threat from pimps, violent johns, street criminals, disease and addictions.

In From Hell, the sole authority seemingly concerned with protecting these 'unfortunates', otherwise viewed as expendable, is Fred Abberline (Johnny Depp). But Abberline himself is equally aggrieved. Tormented by unendurable memories, he seeks temporary escape with opium. Like Sherlock Holmes before him who, according to The Seven Per Cent Solution, was addicted to cocaine, it is an addiction that heightens him to the spells of clairvoyance that bring both insight and incapacity.

Abberline has been beaten up by life. He lost his wife and child and relies on self-medication to get through the day. Indeed the Inspector, promoted out of Whitechapel after years of service, once again finds himself assigned to the seedy district to lead the Ripper investigation. Aiding him in his troubled investigation is Sergeant Peter Godley, played by Robbie Coltrane, who first found fame as a comedian before landing his most famous role as television's forensic psychologist, Cracker. Godley is a loyal friend who takes a strong hand in caring for Abberline when influenced from his substance habits. Godley is a straightforward Scottish cop who draws conclusions from concrete evidence such as a blood stained knife and eye witness accounts. He is intrigued by Abberline's intuition and unorthodox methods. It's contrary to Godley's nature, but he accepts Abberline's visions as genuine and he feels compelled to act on them. Godley is the only person in the world that Abberline listens to and respects. Godley keeps him alive, watches over him and is his closest friend.

But as the Whitechapel murders escalate, the two men are thwarted by superiors more interested in sweeping the crimes under the carpet than finding the killer. The sole exception is the renowned Sir William Gull, played by Ian Holm, a physician to the royal family, and a powerful figure to assist the shunned Inspector, who knows the murders are being committed by someone with medical knowledge. Certainly the killer possesses surgical skills beyond those of a butcher or labourer. His killings involve a bizzarre and terrible ritual.

With Gull's guidance, Abberline is able to deduce that the killings were part of a menacing conspiracy involving the Order of the Freemasons, who in turn were acting on behalf of the monarchy itself.

My thoughts
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It certainly is an intersting one. From watching the film the idea of the Crown being linked to the Jack the Ripper murders seems to be less far fetched. I think that whether the British monarchy was literally involved in the Ripper murders doesn't diminish the power of the accusation levelled at the ruling class. That the authorities refused to even consider the possibility that the suspect might be wealthy speaks volumes about the Victorian era. Society's ills were viewed exclusively as the fault of the poor and lower class.

I think what the Hughes brothers did was to take a well known mystery, rich with legend and used their imagination to give it an added dimension. This dimension is the relationship that develops between Mary Kelly and Abberline. As the member of a lower class and a prostitute, Mary Kelly was unaccustomed to the company of respectable men, at least when she wasn't working. Distrustful and wary of being used, she initially rebukes Abberline's investigations. Girls working the streets had their guard up. Mary views Abberline as just another guy who wants to use her. His decency and sincerity eventually breaks down her defences and she begins to trust him.

The only problem I had with this dimension is that Heather Graham who played Mary Kelly was implausible as a prostitute. She is not merely the most glamorous but the one with the most access to expensive make up, style and skin care.

Robbie Coltrane was 'himself' as Godley. Entertaining as ever, preparing for his role in Cracker.

I have always admired Ian Holm and thought he was very good as the physician to the toffs. I have always thought there is something a bit daunting about him - I liked him in this.

As for my dear Johnny Depp - what can I say? He looked the part and looked good. His acting was fine but the accent was awful. Some might say, well does it matter? To me, it matters. It was like a cross between a young David Bowie crossed with Anthony Newley and after a while drove me nuts. Thank goodness his cockney accent has improved and he only sounds like David Bowie now in Sweeney Todd.

As for the film - even with naked bodies stretched out dead and alive, barbaric practices extending to the medical theatre, and a brief scientific observation of the 'elephant man', John Merrick, the film still fell short of its promise as far as I was concerned.

Peter Deming did an excellent job on the cinematography and the scenes of 19th century London look realistic enough to me. Or at least I agree with his depiction of the grime, squalor and beautiful haziness created by the never ending fog. I don't really know if it is realistic because I wasn't around but the pictures he paints are what we are led to believe. And I did read somewhere that they tried to film as near as possible to where the crimes were actually committed.

Even if this isn't a top notch film, Jack the Ripper is the perfect nemesis for a movie. The fact that he was never apprehended. It is the mystery of his identity, his daring to commit heinous murders in public places, and his ability to slip back into the night that has intrigued people for more than a century.

Although, original in style, I think it is an average film based on its attributes I mentioned, (in the 1st paragraph) and despite its gothic look, Hammer horror or slasher movie it isn't. It's a movie that doesn't cater to any clear demographic. It isn't really gruesome - more stylish. There is an odd moment of suspense and once or twice I felt a cold chill on my back but it isn't really scary or gory even if the sky at times is red.

Not a brilliant film but worth a watch if only for Depp (not the accent) and the atmospheric cinematography.

Running Time - 122 minutes

Rating UK 18

The two disc DVD consists of a documentary about the case of Jack Ripper which if you are interested in this then it is definitely worth watching. The price is expensive - approximately £8 from Amazon.

*This review was originally posted on Dooyoo*

 

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