Dark, surrealistic journey into Victorian England

Rating: 7/10 (9 June 2002)

I was not too excited to see this movie when it originally came out, but recently rented it and found that it was surprisingly good. It takes a played-out story and gives it fresh twist and even goes one step further than usual and solves the crime! AND the solution makes sense!

Johnny Depp, using an authentic Cockney accent, does a great job in the lead as a demoralized inspector seeking the truth about these gruesome sex crimes. Heather Graham finally gives up her kittenish image and also comes through in her role as one of the "unfortunates" or prostitutes of the London streets.
The dark, moody atmosphere is created through camerawork, sets and the editing, which has a dreamy, surrealistic edge to it inspired by Depp's opium hazes and "intuitions". Though these visions are not crucial to the plot, they take us a little more into the horror of what these crimes were.
If you are squeamish about blood, DO NOT see this movie, because these filmmakers want you to experience these acts even from the point of view of "The Ripper", but if you are a fan of the horror genre, I would say that "From Hell" is a must-see.