Could have been much better

Rating: 6/10 (2 November 2002)

I rented this movie for Halloween as I was looking for something with a horror feel to it. Some parts of this movie lived up to that but I'm glad I had my remote to fast-forward through some of the slower parts. I especially liked the stylized shooting of the first murder - the flashes of the knife in the night. Very striking!
What I did not like was what nearly everyone else mentioned: 1) Heather Graham - that red hair - sheesh! Even my dye jobs don't look that bad! And don't get me started on the accents - ech! And how nice that her character seems to be the only streetwalker who doesn't actually sleep with anyone? (a la 'Pretty Woman') 2) Johnny Depp's laudanum chugging 'visionary' detective work - please. Who'd listen to a druggy cop in any era?
I did enjoy the commendable attention to detail to the Londoners and the background scenery. I could get into the feel of turn of the century London life the longer I watched the movie. Some scenes were humorous - like poor people having to sleep sitting up (and tied up) instead of sleeping in beds. Side note - the women couldn't find enough money to pay the gang but they found enough to bury their friend? Unlikely.
The photography is what makes this film worth watching. The brilliant orange colored skies, the dark and forbidding streets ... I'll definitely check out the graphic novel this was based on.
6/10