From Hell
2001 · Directed by Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes
Original language: English
- horror
- mystery
- thriller
The story
Frederick Abberline is an opium-huffing inspector from Scotland Yard who falls for one of Jack the Ripper's prostitute targets in this Hughes brothers adaption of a graphic novel that posits the Ripper's true identity.
What it’s like
Smoky, sepia-tinted Whitechapel: gaslit streets, fog pooling in alleys, interiors lit by guttering lamps and the amber haze of opium dens, with the palette drained toward browns, greys and bruised blue. The Hughes brothers shoot with a restless, roving camera that prowls corridors and slides through crowds, and the frequent slow-motion and dreamlike visions give the London night a feverish, unstable edge. The score is mournful and brooding, built on strings and low drones, with the city's clatter of hooves and church bells left to echo. The vibe is urban gothic melancholy, somber and hallucinatory, suited to a late, lonely night with the lights low. Pacing is deliberate in its quieter stretches, punctuated by sudden, jarring bursts. The emotional arc follows a haunted, drug-dulled detective slowly drawn toward grief and a tender bond he cannot save. Intensity is high: the murders are shown in grim, brutal detail, with bloody throats, mutilated bodies and sexual violence, and the menace is persistent and unsettling. Not for anyone seeking something gentle. For viewers who want atmospheric period horror and a bleak, stylised take on the Ripper legend.
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