Dir: Albert Hughes & Allen Hughes. Starring: Johnny Depp, Heather Graham, Ian Holm, Robbie Coltrane,
Perhaps I should point out straight away that I've never read Alan Moore's critically acclaimed comics series From Hell, and thus can't comment on whether or not this is an accurate adaptation, but when compared to the majority of horror films from the last decade or so, this is pretty fine material.
From Hell is based around the Jack the Ripper story, which everyone knows of course, but just incase you've been strangely overprotected your whole life - it's about a serial killer in Victorian London who murdered five prostitutes, earnt the nickname Jack the Ripper because of the surgical precision used during the murders. Rather than speculate on the numerous possible candidates for the crimes, like so many other books and tv programmes have done, From Hell concentrates on the story of just one of the plausible suspects for the crimes, and the investigation that surrounded it.
Inspector Fred Abberline (Johnny Depp) is the unfortunate detective assigned to the Ripper case, chosen because of his Heroine inspired visions that allow him to see crime's before they're committed (though this doesn't actually seem to help him actually stop them). Abberline, seemingly the only uncorrupted policeman in London, is rather
If you've seen the trailer you'll be aware that Depp's accent is a tad embarrassing, but it's not too distracting, and fortunately acting-wise he's as great as always. Robbie Coltrane's fine as a slightly corrupt sergeant, but it is his weakest performance in a long time - there's just not that much too the character. And though Heather Graham looks far too lovely for someone who's sexually abused on a daily basis, which is unfortunately highlighted due to fellow working girls Susan Lynch and Katrin Cartlidge more than looking the part, the romance between her and Abberline feels realistic, and adds a much needed emotional centre to the film.
It's a distinctly American-ised version of London, all cobbled and smog filled streets and it just doesn't look real. But it does suit the feel of the film, which is shot stylishly, a mix of odd angles and shaky hand-held camera. Depp's drug induced visions fit perfectly in to this, and visually throughout it is a treat. It's just a shame that the dialogue doesn't match up to the visuals - it's not that it's especially poor, just often a little weak. What saves the film from being only just above average is Ian Holm's masterful performance. Always menacing, his Sir William Gull is a deranged, inspired creation, and the Hughes brothers frame him almost always in a darkly menacing way. And it's, ahem, a 'pleasant' change for the central villain to be explored in such detail, and for once there's no doubting or challenging of the killer's motive.
Like last year's Ginger Snaps, it's refreshing to see a straight forward horror pic, one not influenced by the whole Scream post-modern thang, or slight buffy-esque shock horrors starring supposedly beautiful teens. This pulls it's shocks fairly and without flinching. Indeed, gore-wise it's quite extreme, even to this desensitised hack who laughed heartily throughout The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but the camera rarely focuses on the bloodied bodies for long, so it's never too distressing. Another case of style over content, perhaps From Hell isn't quite as good as it could have been, but it's still mightily fine and enjoyable viewing.
Alex Finch.
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