A gritty and violent thriller

Rating: 8/10 (30 October 2001)

From Hell is a gritty and violent thriller revolving around the famed Jack the Ripper murders. The clandestine plot as to who the Ripper actually is probably far removed from the real case, but within the universe this film establishes it fits like a glove. You really don't have any idea who it could be until the last 15 minutes. And none of the red herrings feel like the filmmakers are just pulling your chain.
As always, Depp delivers a great character in the mumbling, opium addicted, hallucinating Detective Abberdine. Heather Gramm is mere window dressing as his hooker-girlfriend, but far less annoying here than in most of her performances.
The real star of From Hell however has to be the scenery. 19th century London is depicted so convincingly in it's grime and depravity, you'll marvel at its sheer ugliness. Not many films dare to be set in such unwholesome surroundings these days.
From Hell says nothing new about the Ripper case, but it has fun dragging you through its reality.