From Hell, a new thriller from the Hughes Brothers (Menace II Society, Dead Presidents) plays like a Hammer Horror production if done by David Fincher (Seven). While the screenplay suffers from biting off more than it can chew, appealing lead performances coupled with a dour but fascinating atmosphere make the movie definitely worth a look.

The movie takes place in the London slum of Whitechapel, circa 1888. Someone is murdering prostitutes in ways that are deemed harsh even by Whitechapel's standards. With little in the way of clues, leads or witnesses to build an investigation on, Sgt. Godley (Robbie Coltrane) calls on police inspector Fred Abberline (Johnny Depp). Abberline is an inspector who is also clairvoyant. He uses such drugs as opium and absinthe to figure out how murders take place. While the initial signs point to a gang that has been harassing the group of prostitutes that are being killed one by one, Abberline begins to suspect otherwise due to the surgical precision the killer is using on his victims. Over time, he becomes convinced that this is a murderer is an educated man, one driven by a hidden agenda.

Directors Albert and Allen Hughes do a great job with getting the atmosphere of a 19th century London slum right. In many ways, the dreariness and despair that hangs over Whitechapel isn't all that different than those captured in Society or Presidents. If you have seen those two films, then you know that the Hughes brothers have an eye for detail that puts you right in the middle of it all. Helped greatly by Martin Childs' production design and Peter Deming's rich cinematography, the Hughes brothers handsomely pay homage to the Hammer Horror flicks of the 1960s and 70s while applying their trademark flourishes of stylized and graphic violence (this is not a film for the squeamish) as well.

Where this film differs from the brothers' previous two works is in the story department. Menace and Presidents were uncompromising, straightforward and able to relate to the viewer on a personal level. The same can't be said about From Hell. Working from a rather dense graphic novel by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell, screenwriters Rafael Yglesias (Fearless) and Terry Hayes (The Road Warrior) attempt to cover a lot of ground in two hours. A straightforward mystery involving Abberline tracking down Jack the Ripper would have been more than sufficient. But added on top of that are subplots involving the Royal Family and a blooming romance between Abberline and Mary (Heather Graham), one of the prostitutes. The story thread involving the Royals is intriguing but slightly underdeveloped. The romance is a waste of time.

While the characters are as slight as the story is dense, the performances by Depp, Coltrane and Ian Holm (as a doctor Abberline consults on the murders) are solid enough to connect with the viewer. Alas, the same can't be said about Heather Graham, who's just a little too glamorous to be convincing as a 19th century prostitute working the slums of London. Having no character dimension to speak of is also another debit.

From Hell is a movie in which the atmosphere deserves top billing. It's the look and feel of the film that grabs you, sadly not its narrative. This is a film whose artistic beauty will suffer a great deal when it hits home video. If you can stomach the graphic violence and accept the story and characterisations as second-tier, you will find enough in From Hell to make it a worthwhile visit to the big screen.

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