Labels are a tough thing, and nobody knows that better than the Hughes brothers. After Allen and Albert made "Menace II Society" and "Dead Presidents," they were pigeonholed as Black filmmakers whose talents were restricted to making films about the ghetto. Nothing could be further from the truth, and they set out to prove themselves with "From Hell."
And prove themselves they did. Their latest film is a dark, creepy and atmospheric mystery that takes a stab at the legend of Jack the Ripper. It announces the Hughes Brothers as talented young filmmakers to keep an eye on -- unless you already were.
Adapted by Terry Hayes ("Vertical Limit") and Rafael Yglesias ("Fearless") from the highly regarded graphic novel by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell, "From Hell" is a mix of gothic slasher, traditional mystery and romance (our hero falls for a prostitute named Mary Kelly, played by Heather Graham, whose life is in constant danger).
The setting is 1888 London, specifically the Whitechapel district. Whitechapel is a poor, dirty and dangerous part of town where drunks and prostitutes roam the streets. With the police all but useless and a gang of thugs running things, it's not exactly a tourist attraction.
The prostitutes have it especially rough. They have turned to the profession out of desperation and are regularly beaten by the gang of thugs. They also have to make payoffs to them and never have enough money to eat. As if that wasn't enough, enter Jack the Ripper.
Dressed entirely in black, including a long cape and top hat, Jack is brutally murdering prostitutes in dark and abandoned alleys late at night. He earns their trust with grapes and then slits their throats. After that he surgically removes some of their organs.
The police are stumped, so they call upon Inspector Frederick Abberline (Johnny Depp) to investigate. Abberline is an opium and Absinthe addict who has visions while he's high. The visions help him solve crimes, and his superiors hope he will be able to use his unorthodox methods to discover the identity of the person responsible for the brutal slayings.
Abberline quickly discovers that there isn't a lack of suspects. There are a number of men who on the surface have a motive and could be responsible for the murders.
Though it is never scary or suspenseful, "From Hell" works well because the setting is so authentically created you actually feel like you are walking the streets with Abberline and Jack the Ripper. Peter Deming's cinematography is a huge asset, making perfect use of corners and shadows to maximize the dank and hazardous locations.
Depp, who at the very least is always interesting and worth watching, is fantastic. His accent is convincing and he creates a complex anti-hero whom the viewer will gladly follow anywhere. Along with April's "Blow," this is the actor's second marvelous performance of the year.
In the end, the movie's biggest shortcoming lies in the unmasking of Jack the Ripper. A compelling motive is presented, but if you pay close attention the killer's identity is easy to guess and the conclusion lacks tension. In the movie's defense, it appears that this is not intended to be a suspenseful movie given that the murders receive little screen time and most of what the viewer sees is the aftermath.
The Hughes Brothers have crafted a well-made film, and "From Hell" should please anyone who is a fan of mysteries or dark serial killer thrillers.
Grade: B+
"From Hell" opened at theaters everywhere on Fri., Oct. 19. Click here for showtimes and to buy tickets.
