Today’s Prayer Focus
MOVIE REVIEW

From Hell

MPA Rating: R-Rating (MPA) for strong violence/gore, sexuality, language and drug content.

Reviewed by: Carole McDonnell
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating: Very Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Adult
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Length: 2 hr. 17 min.
Year of Release: 2001
USA Release:
Scene from “From Hell”
Relevant Issues
Johnny Depp in “From Hell”
Hell

Is there an actual place called “Hell”? Answer

Why was Hell made? Answer

What should you be willing to do to stay out of Hell? Answer

What are the consequences of sexual immorality? Answer

Why does God allow innocent people to suffer? Answer

Featuring Johnny Depp, Heather Graham, Ian Holm, Robbie Coltrane, Jason Flemyng
Director Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes
Producer Don Murphy, Jane Hamsher, Kevin Messick
Distributor Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. Trademark logo.20th Century Studios, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Studios, a division of The Walt Disney Company

Like many conspiracy theories, “From Hell”, re-works history and uses art to make a political statement. When it comes to conspiracy theories, there are a few things we all know. For instance, we know that most of the evils in the world are caused by wealth, prejudice, and power. We “think” that the wealthy always conspire through law or through secret societies to keep power in their hands and if that power goes, then the poor folks of the world will suffer for it. We know, too, that in Victorian England, the world’s first modern serial killer, Jack the Ripper, created fear among London’s “unfortunate women” (prostitutes) through some very ghastly killings and dis-embowelings. What we didn’t know, of course is that Jack the Ripper’s crimes might have been the secret conspiratorial work of some powerful agency.

The heroes of this movie are “working girls,” prostitutes who are used by the repressed hypocritical upper class. The main hero, Inspector Abberline (Johnny Depp), is an opium-addicted detective who takes laudanum (related to heroin) to create visions of murders happening across London. He also might be taking laudanum and absinthe to numb himself to the pain he feels about the death in pregnancy of his wife. When we first meet our hero, he is “wasted” in an opium den and visions of Jack’s future crime are appearing to him. We might even be able somehow identify with Mary Kelly (Heather Graham), the main heroine and the prostitute Inspector Abberline falls in love with. Besides, unlike all her murdered friends, she is never really seen actually “working.” And, in a scene reminiscent of “Pretty Woman”, we get to view the prostitute’s highest wish: a rich and good man who will marry her and take her away from poverty.

The film speaks against prejudice. We see that Victorian England was like many modern countries. The poor and the non-WASP are the spiritual shadows of the rich. Those who happen to be rich because of an accident of birth believe themselves to be more moral than the minority or the disenfranchised. Crimes are generally supposed to be done by the poor or by minorities. In Victorian London, no one truly cares about murder victims in the poorer communities. No one wants to believe that a gentleman might be responsible for any of these crimes. Some can’t even conceive that an Englishman may be the culprit. They believe that Jack is probably Jewish, Catholic, a wild escaped “Red Indian,” a butcher or some combination thereof. The problem, however, is that Jack’s murders are surgically precise. Education and Enlightenment is the cause of it. Inspector Abberline can only assume that we are dealing with surgeons—an upperclass person—unless Jack is a truly educated middle-class butcher. That is when his problem begins. And no rich powerful person can be trusted because power has already corrupted him. And we all know how protected the insider can be.

But for all its good intentions, the story did not hold me. The love story is weak. The lovers have few scenes together. The story is slow and there are gaping holes in the plot. For instance, why doesn’t he tell the girls that the killer snares his victims with grapes? And if he sees the future victims in his visions, why doesn’t he see the killer? The Hughes brothers, who directed the film, have called it a ghetto film because it deals with the condition of poor people on the edge of society. That preoccupation with poor folks is a good thing. But it makes the movie seem as if it is raking over old territory. In fact, the movie-viewer might be tempted to say, “Been there, Done that.” The film “Topsy-Turvy” dealt with Victorian repression and hypocrisy much better. And the James Spader film, “Jack’s Back,” did a neat re-imagining on the Jack the Ripper serial killer motif. Movies about emotionally-wounded and/or addicted detectives such as “The Watcher,” the French movie, “Homicide”, and in the PBS series “Sherlock Holmes”. As in all movies about conspiracy theories, it doesn’t know when to stop. And like “JFK”, another conspiracy movie, goodness is suspect.

This movie is not for many Christians. I had no problem with the addicted detective hero and the prostitute heroine although this might turn off some Christians who want heroes we can identify with. To me, poverty and grief have brought them where they are and this is Victorian England where the poor had few choices. The drug-induced visions alone might be too tempting for immature teens who are seeking “higher” knowledge. I also found myself getting annoyed at the conspiracy. don’t get me wrong: I am a great believer in conspiracy and some theories are intriguing… after all, the history we have is usually written by the victors… how can we trust it? But as a Christian, I get annoyed at the utter distrust the media has of good people, especially good historic figures. What will we get next? Florence Nightingale as a mad poisoner? (When you see the movie, you’ll know what I mean.)

All in all, this film is not as good as “Sleepy Hollow”, another Johnny Depp period piece. But it does a good job of creating another ghetto and another world quite well. There is graphic violence, a bit of lesbianism, and some shots of mutilated bodies. it’s well-done and is a moody period piece with a kind of political message. But I cannot whole-heartedly recommend it.


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Neutral—This was a good film, but I would not recommend it to many people. It was very graphic and gory… but hey, it IS a horror movie. It had a good plot and story and I did enjoy it.
My Ratings: [Extremely Offensive / 4½]
Adam, age 19
Positive—I really enjoyed this film because I took a walking tour of “Jack the Ripper’s London” while I was in England over the summer. The tour guide told us about this conspiracy, and when I saw the movie, I was pleased that it was true to the conspiracy I heard (although the somewhat happy ending with Heather Graham is just a “what if” situation). When you look at all of the evidence leading towards this conspiracy, it becomes evident that it went far up to the monarchy. Whether the Queen actually knew about it or not, that’s just anyone’s guess.
My Ratings: [Very Offensive / 4½]
Tyler, age 18
Neutral—Websters defines hell as “the underworld abode of the dead”. From Hell (”the movie”) had me worried and scared both at the same time. I counted a few nipples, but it’s nothing I don’t see in the mirror, right? Overall, it was a dark movie, yet fun for those who enjoy dark images of hell. Jesus is my beacon!
My Ratings: [Average / 3]
Gary Rhodes, age 24
Negative—I should have never seen this movie. While walking out of the theatre I was sincerely disappointed in myself for not being more discerning of the movies that I allow myself to be exposed to. This movie was truly disturbing… graphically violent with demonic overtones towards the end. This is not a movie that any convicted Christian should see. If there was one good thing that came out of this; I will always consult a ratings site before seeing a movie.
My Ratings: [Extremely Offensive / 3]
Chris, age 27
Positive—I really liked this movie. It was dark, rich and atmospheric. It overflowed with the kind of campy decadence, especially in Depp’s twisted visions. And while the plot was a bit formulaic, it didn’t really matter because it was so much fun to look at. As well, I was hoping for a “Seven” type ending but didn’t get one. What I did get was another good performance from Johnny Depp, who is constantly in good pictures. I enjoyed myself thoroughly.
My Ratings: [Average / 4]
Jason Eaken, age 18
Neutral—I thought that it might be good, I’ve seen biographies on Jack the Ripper so I was quite interested. I was not disappointed. Very graphic. Nudity gore and so on, it made me wanna be sick, and I can stand movies like Braveheart, with fighting. But this was just straight out “I’m going to kill you and cut you up very slowly”. it’s not a date movie that’s for sure! I wouldn’t go see it again… ever.
My Ratings: [Very Offensive / 3½]
Daria, age 17
Movie Critics
…at least 12 “f” words…
ScreenIt!
…graphic violence, explicit sexual content and vulgar language…
Preview Family Movie and TV Review
…Several brutal murders are depicted…
Kids-in-Mind
…what really sets “From Hell” apart is its visual style, and we’re not talking pretty pictures…
Robert Butler, Kansas City Star