Watch From Hell

From Hell is a 2001 American horror-thriller film directed by the Hughes Brothers, Allen and Albert, and starring Johnny Depp, Heather Graham, and Ian Holm. The movie is loosely based on the graphic novel of the same name by writer Alan Moore and artist Eddie Campbell, which presents a fictionalized account of the Jack the Ripper murders.

Set in the Whitechapel district of London in 1888, the film follows Inspector Frederick Abberline (Depp), an opium-addicted detective who is assigned to investigate a series of brutal murders of prostitutes. As he delves deeper into the case, Abberline becomes increasingly obsessed with finding the killer, who poses a challenge to him both intellectually and morally.

Abberline's investigation leads him to several suspects, including a physician named Sir William Gull (Holm), who appears to have connections to the royal family and is implicated in a vast conspiracy involving the Freemasons, the police, and the upper classes of British society. Along the way, Abberline becomes romantically involved with a prostitute named Mary Kelly (Graham), who becomes a target of the killer.

The film is notable for its atmospheric and haunting portrayal of Victorian London, which is depicted as a grim and oppressive place where poverty, violence, and corruption are rampant. The cinematography, soundtrack, and production design all contribute to create a sense of dread and suspense that intensifies as the plot progresses.

Depp delivers a mesmerizing performance as Abberline, a troubled and complex character who is haunted by the ghosts of his past and struggles to maintain his sanity in the face of overwhelming horror. Holm is also excellent as the enigmatic and sinister Gull, who embodies the dark forces that lurk beneath the surface of the society.

Graham, on the other hand, is somewhat underutilized in her role as Mary Kelly, who serves mainly as a love interest for Abberline and a victim of the killer. Nevertheless, she manages to convey a sense of vulnerability and strength that make her character sympathetic and memorable.

One of the strengths of the film is its use of historical and cultural elements, such as the architecture, fashion, and social norms of the period, to create a sense of authenticity and immersion. The filmmakers also make several allusions to the Ripper mythology and the theories surrounding the identity of the killer, which adds a layer of intrigue and speculation to the plot.

However, the film has been criticized for its deviations from the source material, which some fans of the graphic novel consider a masterpiece of storytelling and historical research. The film takes several liberties with the plot and the characters, and simplifies some of the more complex aspects of the story, which may disappoint fans of the original work.

Overall, From Hell is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that offers a unique and compelling vision of the Jack the Ripper legend. It is a dark and gritty portrayal of a society in crisis, where justice and morality are at odds with power and privilege, and where the human psyche is pushed to its limits in the face of unspeakable evil.

From Hell is a 2001 horror movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 2 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 54.