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From Hell (2001)

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492 comments in total

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88 out of 107 people found the following comment useful :-
Simply a fantastic movie, 1 October 2003

Author: johnnyparker from Oxford, England.

The critics, nit-pickers and historical pedants who've trashed this superb piece of truly cinematic movie-making have totally missed the point.

So what if Johnny Depp's English accent isn't exactly "right" for his character? (English accents have always been problematic for all but the most skilled of American actors: Depp pulls it off entirely passably, way way better than - say - Keanu Reeves, risible in Coppola's Dracula. Think of Kevin Costner, who didn't even bother trying in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.) I'm a Londoner by birth, and for me the accent in no way detracted from Depp's excellent performance.

As for history, again, who cares if the filmmakers have employed a degree of dramatic licence? This is a movie, not a documentary. Nobody knows for sure who Jack the Ripper was, and in order to make the film interesting and enjoyable the writers have speculated a little. Fine by me.

OK, so Heather Graham was impossibly glamorous, but movies with big budgets need a little bit of star appeal. The notion of the "tart with a heart" is a cliché, sure, but nevertheless her character works in the context of the film. (Contrast the depiction of prostitution generally in this film with the utter garbage that is Pretty Woman.)

What's so great about this film? The quirky, literate script; the performances (all, with the possible exception of Graham, excellent); the wonderful photography and production design; the depiction of the murders themselves - elliptical, shocking, mesmerising; and above all the aura of brooding menace, gloom, cruelty, darkness, melancholy and downright despair running through it as deeply as the veins through a block of marble. This is marvellously thoughtful, evocative film-making, very bold and brave. No happy Hollywood ending, no phoney saccharine or cheap laughs to satisfy the popcorn brigade. This is a proper grown-ups movie that probes some of the darkest regions of the human psyche, places mainstream filmmakers like Lucas, Spielberg, James Cameron and their ilk don't dare to go, or couldn't go even if they wanted to. To me it appeals almost on a subconscious level, forcing us to confront our deepest fears and taboos - death, pain, suffering, human wickedness. I can't think of a recent major release that is so relentlessly downbeat.

Don't let the detractors put you off. It's hardly surprising a generation weened on MTV - folk with the the attention span of a gnat and the emotional depth of a paper cup - didn't like it. They've got their Screams and their Scary Movies, and they're welcome to them. This is super stuff, and the Hughes brothers and their collaborators should be heartily congratulated for it.

A classic, not so much for the plot, which is a little contrived, but for its sure command of cinema as a visual storytelling medium.

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53 out of 65 people found the following comment useful :-
Darker than a Night may be - Darker than an Ebony Tree, 20 September 2003

Author: worldwideweird from Cologne, Germany

This is really an outstanding modern movie, and it deserves, in my opinion, one of the highest places in the hall of fame of the genre, that is still considered to be inferior by many people. The myth of Jack the Ripper is presented here more or less as a classical `who-dun-it' - without even being very original in its final solution. The magic of the film lies elsewhere.

The film manages to capture a fascinating picture of Victorian England, though not necessarily a picture of it's real history. It is, in fact, the mystery of that period that the movie depicts, the riddle of Jack the Ripper being merely a part of it. All those things for that 19th century London is still famous can be found in this movie, dark and sinister alleys, decadent, opium-smoking noblemen (in the tradition of Dorian Gray) and mysterious, all-powerful organizations, in this case the often-used freemasons. The validity of all these mixed theories is not really important, `From Hell' just offers a collage of myths and legends. However, these legends may yet capture the epoch's spirit better than any historical discourse since the spirit of our times is also only partially represented by political events, much of today's spirit lies in much more elusive things, the media for example.

To capture these myths, `From Hell' uses dark and sinister images, worthy of the `Gothic' traditions often used in those days. Though all shots are professionally done, with modern digital effects and the finest costumes and décors, the general style is very classical, even `old-fashioned' to some degree. The usage of paintings and heavily contrasting colours even suggest relationship with Roger Corman's E. A. Poe-movies (e.g. `The Pit and the Pendulum') whereas characters like the prostitutes and the inspector (Johnny Depp, great as always) refer more to real Victorian history. Out of all these references to (film-) history one could have easily made a typical `post-modern' movie, living of quotation and irony. That is exactly what the Hughes brothers did not do - and perhaps that's also the reason why their movie has received so much indifferent criticism. `From Hell' does not allow the audience to keep their distance to the depicted events, it does not offer any opportunity to laugh like all these new-age teenage horror movies (e.g. `Scream') that do not try to build up atmosphere but are celebrating the simple combination of shock effects and irony. There is, in fact, not a single ray of hope shining through in `From Hell', it is dark and depressing from the beginning to its end, following the line of classics like `The Exorcist' or `Rosemary's Baby' and it is not only intense and disturbing but also excessively cruel - a cruelty that does not express itself merely in the plump showing of blood but rather in the `sickness' of the depicted events (perhaps comparable to `Seven'), the desperation of the setting and the helplessness of the characters.

While all these things make `From Hell' harder to consume and less `popcorn-friendly' than the usual `scream-teen-story', it fulfils the inherent aim of any good horror film: it unsettles, it awakes primal fears that one keeps buried in daily life. While bringing these fears up with a movie (or a lonely walk through the woods at night, that is) one gets to know and to deal with them better.

A truly frightening, yet enjoyable movie. One can really draw much out of it, and it has been made with a great concern for detail. However, if one does not like Horror films at all, and if one does not understand why such movies are worth serious discussion, this one will perhaps not stand the (often cheesy) argumentation either and be considered as junk. I love it, though.

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50 out of 74 people found the following comment useful :-
"FROM HELL is a dark, compelling horror film... that will stay in your mind for days after watching., 2 December 2001

Author: Steve Szyk from New York, USA

I had always been fascinated by the story of Jack the Ripper, but surprisingly this was my first film based on the story. From Hell is an outstanding mystery and a dark, moody film. This is the type of film that sticks in your mind days after seeing it. You'll have the image of old Whitechaple in your head. You'll have the terrific murder scenes stuck in your head, but most of all you'll have the image of Jack the Ripper in your head. From Hell will disturb you. It might scare you, and it might even bore you (action fans will not enjoy this film). From Hell is certainly not for everyone, but it certainly was for me.

Johnny Depp is fantastic. He is one of my favorite actors, and certainly delivers the goods in From Hell. His performance is perfect, and one of his bests yet. Heather Graham also does a fine job in From Hell. I was surprised with her performance. I'll admit, when I heard she was going to be in the film, I was worried. I mean who doesn't get worried when they find out the same actress who was in Austin Powers 2 is going to be in a Jack the Ripper film. But she did surprise me, although I still think she could have done better.

The Hughes brothers direct this film with such style. The use of colors in the film is beautiful, as is the use of lighting. The camera angles are crazy, and the film turns out a beauty. Trevor Jones' score is great (As a matter of fact, I'm listening to it now), and fits the film perfectly. The music is eerie, creepy, and scary. It's flawless.

The murder mystery is also great. It keeps you guessing the whole way through (I was not successful in guessing who Jack was), and when the killer is revealed, it all makes sense. And let me tell you, From Hell is violent! Although not as gory as I expected it to be, it'll still make you cringe (that throat slash!). A lot of the violence takes place off screen, which lets your imagination run wild, and mine did just that(My head was filled with tons of gory images).

A lot of people call From Hell boring. I can see how they think that, but I disagree completely with that. Sure the film is slow moving, but how fast can a murder mystery movie be? I didn't get bored with the film at all... I was completely absorbed in the film. Another problem people found with this film was the love story, which I have to agree with. Had the love story been more developed, the ending would have been much more depressing, as we would have felt for the characters more (This could be what kept the film from an A+ rating).

As I said before From Hell is great. It is my 3rd favorite film of the year, and my second favorite horror film (this year). It's a dark, compelling film, that is NOT FUN! There is no comic relief, it's all horror. Had it been a little more scary, and had the love story been more developed this film would be an A+. I highly recommend fans stay away, because you'll hate it.this film to fans of Jack the Ripper, and horror fans with patience. Action

From Hell: 9.5/10, A

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26 out of 32 people found the following comment useful :-
A psychotropic thriller, 9 January 2002

Author: Kurt Berger from Dearborn MI

There are many things in media that have nearly insurmountable preconceptions that lead to generic truisms. One of these is 'comic books are pure fluff,' and another is 'no good movie is ever based on a comic book'.

From Hell is a project that takes both of those truisms and tosses them completely out the window. Based on an ambitious graphic novel written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Eddie Campbell, From Hell (named for the signature on the Jack the Ripper letters written to the police), is one man's carefully researched theory into the eternal mystery surrounding the Whitechapel murders of 1888.

This is not a factual display of guilt or innocence, as many of the answers behind these crimes will never be known, but as theory mixed with fact, it creates with chilling detail the mood of lower-class London in the late nineteenth century, where life was cheap, bloody and oftentimes short.

The Hughes brothers, noted for their stylish direction, do a very good job of creating the mood here, involving all the grunginess and hopelessness of the streets, and combining the more mystical elements of Moore's story into the crime tale. Johnny Depp is Inspector Abberline - an opium-smoking criminal investigator that often follows up on hunches he receives during moments of hallucinatory revelation.

The style of the film - dripping with violent murder of prostitutes in alleyways - leaves more to the imagination than it reveals, although the gore level is by no means light. The vicious throat-slashes and bloody crime scenes are definitely grotesque, but most of the time we are shown the crime after the fact, letting the viewer decide how horrible the murder itself was.

All the performances are strong, fitting together into an ensemble piece, with Depp being as much a chameleon as ever as Abberline, and Robbie Coltrane equally strong as his colleague Godfrey. Ian Holm, Heather Graham, and Ian Richardson also provide good supporting roles.

For an historical perspective of the Jack the Ripper crimes, best to watch an A&E documentary. But for a theoretical description of the crimes, and an artful depiction of a carefully constructed tale, definitely check out the very chilling, very calculated, and very good From Hell.

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24 out of 31 people found the following comment useful :-
Darkly stylish--not based on reality., 17 May 2004

Author: Jennifer Keenan from Burlington, Ontario

The best thing about an enduring mystery is that people can feel free to take all sorts of liberties with the facts and create interesting "what if" scenarios. FROM HELL is a perfect example. For the record, the theory behind the killings is pretty much right out of JACK THE RIPPER: THE FINAL SOLUTION by Stephen Knight, and it's been pretty well discredited since it first came out twenty years ago, even though it makes a hell of an entertaining piece of fiction.

I completely discount any criticisms of the movie where people say "it didn't happen that way". Of course it didn't; that's why this is a fictional film and not a documentary. It's very loosely based on the Alan Moore graphic novel, and about all it retains of it is the Duke of Clarence theory and the stylish look of the architecture. It's enough to make the film beautiful to watch.

Yes, I know that four of the five victims of Jack the Ripper were women in their late 40's, which on the streets of Victorian London would mean that they would resemble crones in their late 60's or early 70's. Just try to make that fly past a Hollywood studio boss; the casting at least had women who looked fairly human rather than like fallen glamour girls. I've read a couple of comments disparaging the accents. Actually, Cockney accents were the norm in the street because people tried to blend in and often weren't eager to advertise Scottish or Irish origins.

I call special attention to the performance of Jason Flemyng in the role of Netley, the coachman, arguably the most fascinating and believable character in the whole production. Most of his best scenes ended up on the cutting room floor, unfortunately, and yet he still manages to pull the movie together into a cohesive whole just by his presence. (It must have been a heck of a fun role to play!) As well, Sir Ian Holm deserves special mention for stepping in when the original choice for his role, Sir Nigel Hawthorne, tragically became ill and died just before the film went into production. I have never seen Sir Ian in any role that I didn't find completely believable, and that ranges all the way from KING LEAR to his role in ALIEN, for heaven's sake.

My interest in the whole Jack the Ripper case has been reawakened thanks to this movie, and I'm trying to hunt down a copy of Alan Moore's graphic novel (which is very difficult to find). No, it's not even close to an approximation of what really happened; nobody will ever know the truth, Patricia Cornwell's arrogant claims notwithstanding. It's still worth renting, if only for the beautifully ominous score and the fascinating transformation of Prague into Victorian London. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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28 out of 39 people found the following comment useful :-
Truly effective Gothic horror film, 20 March 2002

Author: zetes from Saint Paul, MN

I wasn't expecting much from this movie. The critics passed it over rather quickly, saying a few kind words but without a strong recommendation. The couple of people I knew who saw this said that it was "good," but never cared to say much more than that and have never brought it up again. As I sat down to watch it, I thought it looked nice but moved too fast, was a little dumb. But by the end, I was astounded. I think it's one of the best films of 2001. Sure, it's a triumph of style over substance, but I think we need a couple of good films like this every year. I love style.

I would compare From Hell most closely to Alex Proyas' 1997 triumph Dark City, which, like From Hell, made almost nothing at the box office. I hope, like Dark City, that From Hell will win a larger audience on video. It's not as intelligent as Dark City, which was brilliant in nearly every way, but From Hell equals it in visual virtuosity. Its story, while sometimes lapsing into silliness, is enormously gripping. It's also one of the few horror films to succeed at inducing a sense of dread in the audience. A Scotland Yard detective (played well by Johnny Depp) is on the case of Jack the Ripper, who is himself on the trail of a group of five prostitutes. On the way, Depp discovers that the ritualistic murders are part of a larger conspiracy. The film is full of great twists, the biggest one being simply hilarious in its level of audacity. The end is quite unpredictable (although the climax is a little too predictable).

There are several minor flaws in the film. It does go a bit too fast, but its breathless pace ends up paying off well in the end. Many people will be turned off at the level of gore in the film. Seriously, avoid it at all costs if you have a weak stomach. But if you could take it in Silence of the Lambs, Se7en, or Sleepy Hollow, you'll be fine. I actually felt that those three particular films flaunted their gore and were tremendously ineffective in their horror. Yes, even (and perhaps especially) Silence of the Lambs. I don't know why, but I didn't feel that way about From Hell. 10/10.

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22 out of 29 people found the following comment useful :-
Interesting spin on the tale, if not particularly memorable, 26 April 2005

Author: MovieAddict2008 from UK

"From Hell" is an interesting spin on the familiar Jack the Ripper tale, using the iconic cultural image of the cloaked man with the top hat as the source for a spin-off not of history, but of a graphic novel.

The lead performance by Johnny Depp as Inspector Abberline (who really existed in 1888 at the time of the murders and really was an authority on the case) is wonderful. Depp nails the cockney accent perfectly. Unfortunately, Heather Graham -- as the prostitute Mary Kelley -- is not as fortunate. Although her accent seems to improve throughout the film at various intervals, for most of "From Hell's" duration her British voice is quite stiff and the American twang is audible. The Hughes Brothers did not choose Graham for her acting abilities.

That said, the set design on this production is magnificent. 1880s London is brought to life and Whitechapel has never looked more realistic. The film is an odd hybrid of genres because it maintains the look and feel of a slasher film whilst presenting historical elements and painstaking recreations of actual murders. Robbie Coltrane, as one of the police officers involved in the case, has a lot of fun with his character and is fun to watch, and similarly as convincing as the scenery.

This is a very gritty and gory film -- more so than I ever expected. It's quite a strange beast with hallucinogenic visuals, horror elements and history thrown in for good measure, on top of some slightly modernized techniques. All in all this film kept me entertained because it was unique, and very different, and not particularly because it was "great." I didn't expect a whole lot, but I felt that the movie was directed as ably as it could (or should) have been and the performance by Johnny Depp was deserving of a better film. The ending got a bit carried away, but it still presents a pretty cool twist on the whole Jack the Ripper scenario without totally insulting the intelligence or even upsetting one's sense of history. (Like Disney's "Pocahontas.") The respect the filmmakers have for their material shines through and elevates this above what it could have been. Definitely worth seeing, if only for its originality.

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30 out of 49 people found the following comment useful :-
A bizarre murder mystery, 26 July 2003

Author: strangerzero from united states

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

From Hell (2001) is quite a bizarre murder mystery. Then again, the real Jack the Ripper is still to this day a mystery, with his identity forever unknown. This film offers a theory as to the identity, and it looks like it could have worked. The film goes like this:

Inspector Fred Abberline (Johnny Depp) is a detective in London who has a special gift for discovering murders. He also does opium in his spare time and is a wreck ever since his wife died while trying to give birth to their baby. Along with his co-worker/friend Godley (Robbie Coltrane), Abberline is charged with solving the murder case that has terrorized London's streets: the Jack the Ripper case. The Ripper is killing prostitutes and dismembering them. Abberline attends one prostitutes funeral in hopes of finding any clue. It's there that he meets Mary Kelly (Heather Graham), a prostitute who doesn't sleep with anyone. He also meets her friends and begins to search for clues. He contacts Sir William Gull (Ian Holm), a surgeon for the Queen, and gains medical knowledge of the victims. Specifically, Abberline and Gull both realize that the killer has an extensive knowledge of surgery. Meanwhile the Ripper is stalking the streets with driver Netley (Jason Flemyng), who's deeply troubled with the murders. As the dead bodies begin to pile up, Abberline discovers that all of Mary's friends are the victims. And as Abberline starts to fall in love with Mary, he realizes that she will be the next victim. He desperately looks for the identity of the killer, but the answer may prove to be more dangerous than expected.

Johnny Depp is perfect as the troubled Abberline, though the real Abberline didn't do opium. The real Abberline also had a different fate from the one in the movie. Heather Graham was a bit unbelievable as Mary, partly because she's supposed to be a prostitute yet she refuses to have sex with anyone. Also, it's kind of funny how she manages to stay clean all the time while living on the street. And her accent is kind of crappy. Robbie Coltrane is always a pleasure to view in any film. Ian Holm also does a good job as Gull.

The film explores more than just the Ripper case, but more of what was happening around that time in history. So expect subplots a plenty. Also, the proposed identity of Jack the Ripper is believable but at the same time doesn't feel right. The world may never know who this killer is.

Albert and Allen Hughes did a great job of bringing the graphic novel to life. There was a sense of dread and death around each street corner. The violence in the film is mostly after-viewings of the murder victims, while some of the gory images are of the Ripper in the act. Many people die in this film, and not just the Ripper victims. Also, the ending was admittedly cheesy, especially since it doesn't follow what happens in real life. But that's Hollywood for you. I give From Hell a 6.5 out of 10.

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9 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :-
A stylish film, but has little to offer., 14 August 2003

Author: Phil Hinchliffe (phil0011@hotmail.com) from Leeds, England

A dark and meticulous tale, based around the murders of Jack the Ripper in Whitechapel, London. The films look is no more than what you would expect from a one based on Jack the Ripper. Dark shadows loom over the characters as the satanic nature of The Ripper is emphasised. It's such an intriguing story and character that every time I watch a film based on this story I come away slightly disappointed. This time was no exception. While the acting was good (minus some quite unconvincing cockney accents - Heather Graham and Johnny Depp, I'm talking to you) and the direction assured, the script seemed a little reserved. There was no great insight into any of the characters, and much of it played out like a simple murder mystery. But this didn't stop me from enjoying the 120 or so minutes.

Why did I enjoy this film, I hear you ask? For a start, the direction was superb - the streets of London looked grimy, while the `unfortunates' (i.e., prostitutes) wandered around in squalor awaiting their fate. This produced a wonderful atmosphere, creating murder scenes that were much more terrifying and shocking (and very gruesome). Johnny Depp's performance (as the detective Abberline), as always, was hugely enjoyable to watch. He played his character in a very subtle way - halfway between comic and serious. He portrays a desperate man, constantly resorting to drugs so he can pass through the day. Depp and the filmmakers see him as a version of Sherlock Holmes, constantly finding clues that other police officers have overlooked (cliched, yes, but somehow Depp provides a little bit of originality). Abberline even suggests that the killer must be a learned man! How could this be?! While dismissed by all the other characters in the film (for a learned man would never commit acts of such debauchery), we as an audience know better not to trust a detective like this - their preposterous ideas are usually right. Another actor to praise in this is the wonderful Ian Holm. He plays his character with a wry little smile, seemingly enjoying every line he says. His interactions with Depp are great to watch.

While the film provides little to ponder on once the credits have rolled, you can leave satisfied that you have seen a stylish and enjoyable film. The Hughes brothers seem to be a talented pair of directors.

For those that care I gave this film 7/10

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6 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
This shouldn't have been made, 23 March 2002

Author: b018675

What will Hollywood scenario writers think up next? As an historian I am appalled about this story. What will they put foreward as actual fact. Now you could argue, they never said... but anyhow they used the victim's names and murder locations. This can't be serious. What a missed chance. The actual Ripper story drips with drama, mystery, enigma, colourful individuals, should I go on? No, but some third rate, coca-cola drinking scenario writer thought the American public would be better off with some fifteenth rate love story soap. It could even be oscar material. Let me tell him or they, thanks to this 'penny-novel' approach, every well made, well acted and sometimes brilliant visual approach was destroyed thoroughly for me. Victorian England was something else. One piece of advice: check your sources well, if you used sources other than your bank account. A good advice: don't be confronted with European historians or you will end up like... To conclude: Jack the Ripper doesn't translate to Disneyworld. Real people died in 1888 and the British Royal family had nothing to do with it.

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