More than the legend will survive
Directors: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes
Starring: Johnny Depp, Heather Graham, Ian Holm
Plot: In Victorian-era London, a troubled clairvoyant police detective (Depp) investigates the murders of Jack the Ripper.
Based on a novel by Alan Moore, From Hell takes all we know about Jack the Ripper and weaves together a story involving a drug-addicted police officer, a conspiracy that involves the royal family and an Anti-Semitic cover-up, all coming at a time when any Johnny Depp film wasn’t just rehashing Captain Jack Sparrow in all his films and Heather Graham was still a leading lady, producing a film that’s two parts period drama and one part Tim Burtons Sleepy Hollow.
If this combination sounds good to you, then From Hell is ideal for you, I, however, do have few problems with the film that stopped me for enjoying it as much as Sleepy Hollow, firstly and most importantly being overly complicated plot and although I understand that we are dealing with an unsolved crime and anyone could have been the killer, the film spent a large portion of the film making every male that appeared on screen the potential killer, leading to a long succession of forgettable candidates rather than narrowing it down and giving us someone more memorable and thus giving the twist ending more weight.
Another of the aspects of From Hell that I found took away from the overall enjoyment factor was the constant switching between serious and comedic. One minute the characters are discussing a brutal murder and the next you have a scene that wouldn’t feel out of place in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen making it difficult to work out what kind of film the Hughes Brothers were trying to make.
This doesn’t mean that there isn’t pleasure to be found in the movie, once you get past the changing tone of the film, the plot does its jobs as an intriguing mystery, while the great visuals/set design that still holds up in HD to this day.
The acting from Depp and Graham is also a strong point, which both committing to their roles and producing entertaining throughout, including some clever and dark nightmarish scenes that border on horror.
If you liked: Sleepy Hollow, Dracula Untold, The Mummy
I don’t think I’ve heard of this movie, but I love the actors so I’ll definitely be watching!
This is one of my favorite movies. The twist of who the Ripper is really surprised me. Great, great film.
I recall watching this film a while back and remembering liking it. Thanks for the review, as I’ll have to rewatch it – since we have a little more time on our hands 🙂
Johnny depp to me… is a good actor I think
but there’s something off from him that somehow I can’t appreciate any movie that he was in
I would love it much more had leopard is playing the role instead 🙂 – Knycx journeying
Sounds like a real thriller with a twisted plot. I’m curious to see it.
I’ll watch anything with Depp in it but the time it’s placed in I find intriguing as well.
I haven’t seen this movie, but it sounds interesting. Depp is such a unique actor, and his films seem to be a certain genre.
i love johnny depp. i saw this movie ages ago. i liked the thriller/horror genre
Ah, this movie that I watch so many times. Love how they twisted that plot. Johnny Depp is awesome.
I am pretty sure I saw this many years ago, but I can’t remember. I will have to check it out again.
before I took a Jack the Ripper walking tour, I watched FROM HELL. I remember thinking the gore was a bit much but that the story of why the first girl (w/ the baby) was kidnapped was a very interesting explanation for what happened.
That sounds very interesting, I will have to watch this sometime soon, thanks for the tip!
From Hell is one of my all-time favorites and the ending leaves you in awe. I believe it is up there with the horror movie Bram Strokers Dracula! I will re-watch it this week.
Johnny Depp is one of my favorites. I love in whichever movies he’s in. He’s charismatic and quirky at the same time.
We are always looking for a new watch so we will deffo be adding this to our list – thank you
I havent seen this but I know for sure this is surely a great one! I love to include this in my watch list. <3