Review of From Hell, WARNING: contains spoilers!

Rating: 7/10 (12 March 2004)

From Hell is a great film; it has a cast of sensational actors and really brings to life the legend of jack the ripper. Johnny Depp plays Fred Abberline, an opium addicted police inspector, while Heather Graham plays Mary Kelly. The two work well together and the romantic twist adds a nice touch to the movie. However, some of the other 'unfortunates' can seem a little over-the-top sometimes.
If you're not in to blood and guts the film is still enjoyable to watch as you don't see very much, but if you are there are plenty of clever sound effects to help your imagination! However, there is a lot of the old 'jump out of the dark' effect in this, so rather than being really scary its more a case of constantly jumping out of you skin.
One of the best things about the film is the amazing sets and costumes that really bring to life Victorian London, and the way that the camera moves around in the dark alleys to make you feel like a part of the film. credit for that has to go to the set designers; Jana Chovancova and David Baxa, and to the costume illustrator Richard Gray, as well as all of the rest of the crew who done such a fine job on the movie.
The part of jack the ripper is well played and if you like a film that keeps you guessing then this is one for you! I'm a sucker for happy endings so this film loses point on that feature, because even though jack the ripper is caught & punished, i would have liked the inspector to follow Mary Kelly back to her home and raise baby Alice together,but that would have been too much of a soppy ending for a horror film.
over all i would give From Hell a 9/10, and i recommend that you go and watch it to see just what a good film it is!