Exceptional period piece.

Jack the Ripper was a distinguished serial killer from the late 1800s. There are only a limited number of historians who haven't heard of his reputation and the iniquitous crimes he committed.

When I first heard of Jack the Ripper I was fascinated and wanted to learn more. Naturally, viewing a film about him was the best thing to do. I was therefore excited when I heard that a film was to be made about the crimes Ripper committed before the beginning of the 20th century.

Movies that are based around true events tread a difficult path. The choice is to either make a movie as authentic as possible, or to use the rough idea as the basis for an otherwise better story. The Hughes Brothers opted for the latter option; basing their film on the graphic novels created by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell. From Hell is one of the most visually striking films I've ever seen. In this day and age we see graphic novels transplanted onto film that create such films as Sin City and 300. I found From Hell to be a lot more realistic and enthralling than the two aforementioned films (based on graphic novels by Frank Miller).

From Hell is a film that does not concentrate on Jack the Ripper himself. Instead he takes a sideline position with the film taking the form of a whodunit murder mystery thriller with his identity kept a secret. In this film we focus on the man assigned to solve the murders - an inspector from London named Frederick Abberline (Depp). These murders are of course linked to Jack the Ripper who is called as such by the London public.

Abberline, who is still mourning the loss of his wife, begins investigating the murders of street-walking prostitutes found dead and butchered. A hooker named Mary Kelly (Graham) and her depressing group of girlfriend prostitutes appear to be the target as Jack the Ripper begins killing them one by one.

Overall I found the plot, the script and the characters to be quite pragmatic; however the main strength of From Hell is found in its visuals. The whole production seems like a genuine slice of life from the 19th century. The production design is elegant and accurate; using precise dexterity to replicate the grimy streets of Victorian-Era London. The classy atmosphere can be attributed to the production designer, the cinematographer and the directors. As a result of all these elements, the film is moody and quite terrifying at times. It was a shame that the film's pacing was slowed dramatically during its mid section. This is one of the film's very limited flaws.

The performances, with the exception of Heather Graham, are all brilliant. Johnny Depp was nothing short of outstanding. Because he plays an English inspector it's a perfect companion piece for Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow (I could feel a bit of Burton inspirational in the visuals). Depp nailed his role; he was exhilarating and wholly believable. That accent of Depp's in particular never felt contrived.

Heather Graham is a good actress...but as a street-walking whore she fails miserably. Her accent sounds fake and her posture is completely unsuitable. This is an example of gross miscasting. It was delightful to see someone like Ian Holm making an appearance. I am fond of his acting and was not disappointed. He delivers a stimulating performance during the darker, more foreboding scenes. Robbie Coltrane is yet another serviceable addition to an already stellar cast.

From Hell is a skilfully executed, brilliant addition to the horror genre. The film showcases a clever script and a wonderful cast; however it's the extravagant 19th century production design that makes this essential viewing. From Hell is a visually astounding film that really holds up and remains to be amazing after multiple viewings.