From Hell

When the presence of Johnny Depp fails to lift a film, its a good indicator that other areas of the film are seriously flawed.

This is certainly the case in From Hell, which follows Depps pursuit of Jack the Ripper in the bleak surroundings of London in 1888. As the Ripper starts to pick off the prostitutes of Whitechapel, Inspector Fred Abberline's (Depp) attempts to catch him are hampered by his growing affection for one of the girls and a penchant for chasing the dragon.

Depp's performance is hampered by a toe-curling cockney accent, but he like the rest of the cast fail to lift a script the fails to engage. As the film is based on a graphic novel it would be unreasonable to expect gripping dialogue, but many of the actors are guilty of over playing their roles, either under instruction or of their own volition, and this adds to the insincerity of many of the scenes. The only notable exception is Ian Holm, who at times is genuinely chilling.

Despite its problems, From Hell has many redeeming features. The film is at its best when there is little or no acting going on. Depp's opium induced visions are expertly done and offer a great deal visually. The harsh reality of 19th London is depicted well and the dark back streets of Whitechapel provide an atmospheric setting for the sense of impending doom that looms large of the film.

If a little more attention had been played to the fundamentals of the film, From Hell could have been more than an average thriller.