From Hell (film)
From Hell is a 2001 American slasher film directed by the Hughes Brothers and written by Terry Hayes and Rafael Yglesias. It is loosely based on the graphic novel From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell about the Jack the Ripper murders. The film stars Johnny Depp as Frederick Abberline, the lead investigator of the murders, and Heather Graham as Mary Kelly, a prostitute targeted by the Ripper. Other cast members include Ian Holm, Robbie Coltrane, Ian Richardson, and Jason Flemyng in supporting roles.
From Hell was theatrically released in the United States on October 19, 2001, by 20th Century Fox. The film grossed over $74 million worldwide and received mixed reviews from critics, with many praising the performances, atmosphere and production values, but was negatively compared to its source material.
Plot
In 1888, Mary Kelly and a small group of London prostitutes trudge through unrelenting daily misery. When their friend Ann Crook is kidnapped, they are drawn into a conspiracy with links to high society. The kidnapping is followed by the gruesome murder of another woman, Martha Tabram; and it becomes apparent that they are being hunted down one by one as prostitutes are murdered and mutilated post-mortem.The murder of Martha and her companions grabs the attention of Whitechapel Police Inspector Frederick Abberline, a brilliant, yet troubled, man whose police work is often aided by his psychic "visions." His colleague, Sergeant Peter Godley, tries to grasp his friend's wild theories. Abberline's investigations reveal that the murders, while gruesome, imply that an educated person is responsible due to the precise and almost surgical method used. Ann is found a few days later in a workhouse having been lobotomized after officials and doctors supposedly found her to be insane, though it is implied this was done to silence her.
Abberline consults Sir William Gull, a physician to the Royal Family, drawing on his experience and knowledge of medicine. During this meeting, it is revealed Abberline is struggling with opium addiction. Gull's findings, coupled with his superiors impeding his investigations, point Abberline to a darker and more organized conspiracy than he originally thought. Abberline becomes deeply involved with the case, which takes on personal meaning to him when he and Mary begin to fall in love.
Abberline deduces that Freemason influence is definitely present in these crimes. His superior, a high ranking Freemason himself, then makes direct intervention and suspends Abberline. It is then revealed that Gull is the killer. He has been killing the witnesses to painter Albert Sickert's forbidden Catholic marriage to Crook, who bore his legitimate daughter, Alice. Sickert is actually Prince Albert, grandson of reigning Queen Victoria, and therefore Alice is heiress to the British throne. Gull boasts to Abberline that he will go down in history for giving "birth to the 20th century." Abberline draws his gun, vowing that Gull will never see the 20th century, but before he is able to shoot Gull, he is knocked out by Ben Kidney, another Freemason.
The Freemasons try to have Abberline eliminated without leaving any witnesses, but Abberline fights back and kills two of the assassins by overturning a carriage. Abberline tries to save Mary, but arrives too late, and blames his superior for not helping him or Godley on the cases. Abberline does nothing but watch Mary's mutilated body being taken away. Gull's increasingly sinister behavior lends an insight into his murderous, but calculated, mind. Rather than publicly charge Gull, the Freemasons decide to lobotomize him to protect themselves and the Royal Family from the scandal. Gull defiantly states he has no equal among men, remaining unrepentant up to his lobotomy, resulting in him becoming invalid just as Ann had been.
Abberline goes to the Ten Bells Tavern in Whitechapel and receives a mysterious letter, which he soon realizes is from Mary. As it turns out, Gull mistook a sleeping Ada for Mary and killed her instead.
Abberline decides not to look for her as a way to offer her protection, as the Freemasons are watching his every move. Abberline then burns the letter, knowing that he can never have a normal life with her.
Years later, Mary is seen living with Alice as her daughter, in a cottage on a cliff by the sea. Abberline is found dead in an opium den of an overdose by Sergeant Godley. Godley places coins with Queen Victoria's image on them over Abberline's eyes, pats him on the arm, and tells him to "Good night, sweet prince."
Cast
- Johnny Depp as Inspector Frederick Abberline, a sympathetic police officer who investigates the Ripper murders. The consumption of drugs makes him dream scenes from the murders, but he nevertheless conducts the investigation in a rational way.
- Heather Graham as Mary Kelly, a young prostitute, who builds up a relationship with Abberline and eventually falls in love with him.
- Ian Holm as Sir William Gull, a retired surgeon and physician ordinary to Queen Victoria, teaching at the Royal London Hospital.
- Robbie Coltrane as Sergeant Peter Godley, the humorous and literary-minded subordinate assistant and friend of Abberline.
- Ian Richardson as Sir Charles Warren, a stiff bureaucrat and Abberline's superior.
- Jason Flemyng as John Netley, the coachman and stooge of the Ripper.
- Samantha Spiro as Martha Tabram, prostitute.
- Annabelle Apsion as Polly Nichols, prostitute.
- Katrin Cartlidge as Annie Chapman, prostitute.
- Susan Lynch as Liz Stride, prostitute.
- Lesley Sharp as Kate Eddowes, prostitute.
- Estelle Skornik as Ada, an old friend of Liz Stride from Brussels.
- Paul Rhys as Dr. Ferral, an ambitious young doctor and specialist in the treatment of dementia.
- Vincent Franklin as George Lusk - chairman of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee.
- Ian McNeice as coroner Robert Drudge
- David Schofield as McQueen
- Sophia Myles as Victoria Abberline, Frederick Abberline's late wife.
- Joanna Page as Ann Crook, Mary Kelly's friend, who was kidnapped.
- Mark Dexter as Prince Albert Victor aka Albert Sickert.
- Anthony Parker as Joseph Merrick, The Elephant Man.
Production
Principal photography began on June 5, 2000 in and around Prague, Czech Republic and at Barrandov Studios, on a massive backlot set recreating the 19th-century Whitechapel district of London. Additional exteriors were filmed in the United Kingdom, including Crackington Haven and Boscastle in Cornwall, and at Goldings estate in Hertfordshire.
Nigel Hawthorne was originally cast as Sir William Gull, but on July 26, 2000 it was announced that Hawthorne had withdrawn from the role, due to terminal cancer. He was replaced by Ian Holm. The disparity in height between Hawthorne and the much shorter Holm led to some of the scenes being changed.
Marilyn Manson originally intended to work with the film's composer, Trevor Jones, to remix portions of the score for use within the film. It proved impossible to do this work before the film's release date, so Manson instead contributed a remixed version of his song The Nobodies, which plays over the film's end credits.
Reception
The film received mixed reviews from critics. Ebert and Roeper gave the film a "two-thumbs up". It currently holds a 57% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 151 reviews, the critic consensus states "Visually impressive, but this latest Ripper tale is dull and far from scary." E! Online stated it is "two hours of gory murders, non-sequitur scenes, and an undeveloped romance" and gave the film a C-. The New York Post called it a "gripping and stylish thriller". Leonard Maltin gave the film three stars, calling it "colorful and entertaining; an impressive showing for the Hughes Brothers”.Empire's Kim Newman gave the film four out of five stars, praising the "range of squirmingly superior British acting talent" although noting that "the script can't quite sell its Jack as at once a purposeful assassin and a mad killer." Philip French was impressed by the film, praising Depp's "very good" performance alongside those of the actresses who played the Ripper's victims. French also praised the production design and cinematography which evoked representations of London by the artists Whistler and John Atkinson Grimshaw.