An admirable piece of art...

Rating: 8/10 (11 July 2002)

I have to admit that this is the first film I've seen directed by Allen and Albert Hughes. The twin brothers directed "Menace II Society" and various other street crime dramas. Their latest film, "From Hell" -- starring Johnny Depp, Heather Graham, and Ian Holm -- is a street drama of a different sort.
Set on the streets of London in 1888, "From Hell" focuses on Jack the Ripper, and his infamous serial-murdering spree of innocent prostitutes. Johnny Depp plays Inspector Fred Abberline, who is sent to investigate these most gruesome killings, along with his partner Peter Godley, played by Robbie Coltrane. Heather Graham plays Mary Kelly, a prostitute suspected of being one of Jack the Ripper's victims, who helps the two detectives search the murderer.
In reality, nobody knows for sure who Jack the Ripper was. This is what makes the film so interesting. There are so many people in the movie who are suspected of being a serial killer, and this keeps you guessing until the film reveals the killer's true [fictional] identity. There are often times where you hear the killer's voice, and even times where you're actually seeing the contents in his home. But you never really figure his identity until the story tells you whom.
Based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell, "From Hell" is so well-directed, contains such lavish sets, and great costume design, that you actually believe you're roaming the streets of London during 1888. There are times where the sky is even painted red, possibly to indicate bloodshed, as the film has a lot of that. This is all what helps the picture seem more disturbing.
"From Hell" is a film in which the characters are likeable, and where you're absolutely disturbed when witnessing prostitutes get their organs torn out. It's actually an incredible experience. The murders are so accurate, the filmmakers even did research on how exactly the corpses were positioned, and where the wounds were. You actually believe the film came from Hell. B+