You don't know Jack.until you've seen this movie.

Rating: Null/10 (20 October 2001)

I suppose it's a curse to all of us "Ripperologists," who are familiar with the history and theories surrounding the Jack-the-Ripper murders. Whenever a new "Jack the Ripper" movie or TV show comes out, we always look for one single character, John Netley, the coach driver who takes the Ripper to his victims. Once Netley appears, we don't have to wait until the end of the movie to find out the Ripper's true identity. Years of conspiracy theories surrounding the case have linked John Netley to one historical figure, identified by numerous theorists as the true identity of Jack the Ripper.
But for those of you who don't know Jack, who have been spared the gory details of the unsolved murders that took place in London's East End in 1888, the movie "From Hell" will be an excellent introduction to the history of the Ripper case. Even if you do know the details, "From Hell" is a terrific thriller. It is that rarity of rarities, a well-done horror movie. Jack is not presented as a simple chase-'em-down-chop-'em-up slasher slicer dicer a la Freddy Kreuger. There's a method to this killer's madness.
Just remember this: Like most Hollywood histories, "From Hell" is fiction from fact.
This much is true: In the fall of 1888, five prostitutes were brutally murdered in London's Whitechapel district. The killer seemed to possess an intricate knowledge of anatomy, and removed some of his victims' internal organs. The first four victims--Mary Ann "Polly" Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, and Catherine Eddows--were found lying in the streets. The final victim, Mary Jane Kelly, was dissected in her own room, her body so brutally cut to pieces that she could barely be identified. (Whether Martha Tabram--the first woman killed in the movie--was a sixth Ripper victim is a matter of debate.)
The murders threw London into a panic. Letters signed "Jack the Ripper," claiming responsibility for the crimes, were sent to local newspapers. The letters were probably fake, but a name like "Jack the Ripper" was one the newspapers couldn't resist. One letter seemed to be genuine. It was addressed "From Hell," and contained part of a kidney from one of the Ripper's victims (The movie makes a mistake here. The "kidney letter" is sent following the murder of Annie Chapman, the Ripper's second victim. In real life, the "kidney letter" arrived after the murder of Catherine Eddows, the Ripper's fourth victim, and was matched to her.)
Public outrage over the Ripper murders was so great that Scotland Yard commissioner Charles Warren was forced to resign. Queen Victoria herself expressed concern over the murders, and offered a Queen's pardon to anyone who could provide information leading to the killer's arrest. But the murders suddenly stopped after Mary Kelly. Jack the Ripper was never caught and he haunts us still today.
Like most unsolved mysteries, a number of theories have sprung up through the years concerning the true identity of Jack the Ripper. One of the more imaginative theories is the "Annie Crook/Prince Eddy" theory, which "From Hell" uses as its basis. I won't give away the details for those who haven't watched the movie, but it's a great "conspiracy theory." It's also, to put it mildly, bull manure.
Historically, Annie Crook, while she did exist, was not Catholic. No historic link has been found between her and her supposed husband, Prince Eddy. Furthermore, the man identified as the Ripper in the "Annie Crook" theory, was not, in real life, a Freemason. Take these facts together and the theory, as presented in "From Hell," falls apart.
That aside, who cares if its fiction. It's still a great conspiracy theory. It makes for a great story. And in "From Hell," it makes for a great movie. We have great performances by Johnny Depp, Heather Graham, Robbie Coltrane, and especially Ian Holm. Ian Richardson--who played the creepily corrupt Prime Minister Francis Urquardt in PBS's "House of Cards" mini-series"--is on hand as Sir Charles Warren. And the screenplay is intelligent and engrossing, with numerous plot twists and red herrings to follow as we join in the search for the Ripper.
The Hughes Brothers have recreated the world of the Ripper, London's teeming East End, with meticulous shadowy style. It's always a thrill to follow Jack down the maze of dark alleys, to watch the knife-wielding phantom slip in and out of foggy, gaslit shadows as he stalks his victims. And of course, there's always that wonderful moment, in the darkened movie theater, when the Ripper's true identity is revealed, and we hear the rest of the audience gasp in acknowledgement. But "From Hell" provides an additional twist at the end concerning the fate of one of the Ripper's victims--and it's a twist that even die-hard Ripperologists like myself will not see coming.
The "Annie Crook" theory has been used in other "Ripper" films, with great success. If you like "From Hell," look around at your local library for a video copy of "Murder By Decree," one of the best Sherlock Holmes films of all time, in which Christopher Plummer, as Holmes, tracks down the Ripper. Also, check your late-night TV listings for "Jack the Ripper," the 1988 TV mini-series, starring Michael Caine as an alcoholic Inspector Abberline, which chronicles Scotland Yard's investigation of the case. (The real Abberline, by the way, lived well into the 20th century, and died in 1929.)
"From Hell" departs from these two in that, for the first time, it shows us the murders as seen from the Ripper's point of view. We see the madness that occupies the Ripper's mind, the visions that he sees, as he commits his terrible crimes. We see what drives this madman to commit such extreme murders, to butcher his victims in such ghastly fashion. That's why I say, even if you know the facts of the case, you don't really know Jack until you meet him in "From Hell."