From Hell The Movie
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The Graphic Novel
THE STORY:
Whitechapel - London - 1888 - and I am afraid to say that a motley crew of ‘unfortunate women’ are heading into a whole world of trouble.
The first woman - Anne - is taken from her artist husband by ‘official type personages’; before being questioned, lobotomized, and then left to rot in a mental asylum.
The second poor soul - Maggie - is butchered in a darkened alley, presumably killed by the hand of an underworld pimp - MsQueen - to scare these ‘unfortunate women’ to pay him his dues.
The third woman to be killed - Martha - provokes the attention of clairvoyant / police inspector, Fredrick Abberline (Johnny Depp), and his aide, Sergeant Peter Godley (Robbie Coltrane) - not just because this woman was killed, oh no, but rather in the way that she was killed – grizzly, savage, and methodical.
Obviously, Abbeline tries his best to piece together any clues that he can find, but he does this by using two diverse methods at his disposal. The first method is that Abbeline dopes himself up on absinth, and then hallucinates’ things that will guide his path more succinctly - which works - after a fashion. And the second method he uses is more procedural - Abbeline snoops around - ask questions to Martha’s friends – another murder occurs, Annie – and then he seeks some help from a stately doctor, Sir William Gull (Ian Holm).
Next, with some more pieces of the puzzle under his belt, Abbeline takes one of these ‘unfortunate women’ - Mary Kelly (Heather Graham) - to one side, and then asks her some rather straight forward questions. In turn, Mary tells Abbeline about her friend that was abducted by ‘official type personages’ - Anne - leading them both to a discovery of Magisterial proportions.
You see, it appears that Anne’s ‘artist husband’ was none other than Prince Edward Albert Victor - the Duke of Clarence - and he married Anne in a catholic church, siring a child with her too.
Now as soon as Abbeline discovers this news, he goes to his doctor friend, Sir William Gull, for some advice on this matter. And what does Sir William say in return? He confirms to Abbeline his suspicions that the Duke does have a taste for ‘unfortunate women’ - but refutes the fact that he could be the murderer, because he has syphilis.
You see, it appears that Anne’s ‘artist husband’ was none other than Prince Edward Albert Victor - the Duke of Clarence - and he married Anne in a catholic church, siring a child with her too.
Now as soon as Abbeline discovers this news, he goes to his doctor friend, Sir William Gull, for some advice on this matter. And what does Sir William say in return? He confirms to Abbeline his suspicions that the Duke does have a taste for ‘unfortunate women’ - but refutes the fact that he could be the murderer, because he has syphilis.
Well, I suppose that is why what next transpires is a right ‘Royal conspiracy’ I can tell you. As women get chopped - culprits gets accused - London gets pissed off - and the face of the 20th century gets a new name... Jack... Jack the Ripper.
THE REVIEW:
Now please allow me to get some facts straight where this film is concerned – pertinent facts. (1) The original graphic novel which this film was based on is from ‘Jack’s’ perspective, not Abbeline’s. (2) Abbeline’s character in the film, is an amalgamation of Abbeline’s character in the book, as well as a clairvoyant in the book, Robert Lees. (3) The novel was in Black and While, and the film is in colour. (4) The novel is broken down into chapters, all of which involves a fictional tale of an elderly Abbeline and Lee’s, reminiscing ‘Jack’s exploits’. (5) Abberline, Mary Kelly, and most of the other ‘unfortunate women’, were either married or in a relationship, and not all downtrodden. (6) The graphic novel was based on a book by Stephen Knight, one entailing both the freemasonry angle and ‘Ripper’ lore. (7) The character of 'Neatly' was merely a device used in the book, and never a proven one. (8) The only common link between the last five victims, is that they all, at one time or another, lived in Dorset Street, Whitechapel. (9) There is no known evidence that all five women knew each other, even though there is a tenuous link that the last two, Kate and Mary, could have. And (10) There is no ten, as from now on in it is about the film, HUZZAH!
Now from reading my little Q and A, most probably you may presume that I did not like ‘From Hell’ at all. Nope - on the contrary - it was a good film - just a bad adaptation. I would have much preferred them to call this film ‘From Jack with Love’ or something in that vein - because at best, the book is a twelve part television mini-series, and could never be made into a film.
Still, give the Hughes Brothers their due, they took the smell of this book, and they did the best with it that they could. Also, the casing wasn’t that bad either, with Heather, Depp, Holm, and my man Coltrane, making the best of a plausible script, and then elevating it into a good script.
Personally speaking, 'From Hell' never stood a hell of a chance really (pun intended) to match the graphic novels lofty heights. Nevertheless, it did have some good bits thrown into the mix, as well as some good performances from all involved – especially by the prostitutes, SLASH!!!!!
Now from reading my little Q and A, most probably you may presume that I did not like ‘From Hell’ at all. Nope - on the contrary - it was a good film - just a bad adaptation. I would have much preferred them to call this film ‘From Jack with Love’ or something in that vein - because at best, the book is a twelve part television mini-series, and could never be made into a film.
Still, give the Hughes Brothers their due, they took the smell of this book, and they did the best with it that they could. Also, the casing wasn’t that bad either, with Heather, Depp, Holm, and my man Coltrane, making the best of a plausible script, and then elevating it into a good script.
Personally speaking, 'From Hell' never stood a hell of a chance really (pun intended) to match the graphic novels lofty heights. Nevertheless, it did have some good bits thrown into the mix, as well as some good performances from all involved – especially by the prostitutes, SLASH!!!!!
THE RATING: B+
