From Hell

   Johnny Depp stars in the historically inaccurate From Hell, based on the infamous Jack the Ripper killings. The film takes place in Victorian Era London follows the life of Inspector Fredrick Abberline (Depp) as he investigates the murders of Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, Marry Anne Nichols and Ada. Through the use of costume/make-up, acting and setting this film was very effective.
  
   Costume and Make-up were particularly important in this film. The movie filmed in 2001 did an excellent job dressing the cast members. It was very important in the film that the different classes were evident. In order to further the plot. Throughout the murder investigation there was a between the classes, many were ruling out the possibilty that a man of higher class could be the murderer. The atrocities also took place in a low-class neighborhood this meant the victims and the community had to look the part. This is evident in the scene in which Abberline takes Mary Kelly a local prostitute to see paintings in a gallery. The visual difference between Mary and the other, higher-class gallery viewers offer a very effective use of imagery. The use of make-up was also incredibly important when viewing the victims before and after the deaths. This made the killings much more realistic to the audience.

   While the film is set in Victorian London, many of the actors in this film are American, meaning the accents are fake, although you would never tell. Each actor did a superb job of becoming his/her character, Johnny Depp more than the rest. I have never seen a film where I didn't believe every word that comes out of Depp's mouth. Depp's performance os particularly riveting in the scene when he is talking to Sir William Gull, the Queen's doctor, about the Doctor being the murderer.

   Setting was a key aspect in this movie because it was based on true events. Although this film is not historically accurate, the setting is very realistic. The neighborhood was dirty and grimmy, visibly lower class as exemplified by the graffiti written on the walls at the scene of the murder. It read "The Juews are the men that will not be blamed for nothing", displaying the low education level and lack of respect people had for their community and peers.

   Although the film was a good one I couldn't get past the fact that it names the killer when in reality, the killer was never found, and that From Hell is mainly based on a love story. I give the movie an 7.5 out of 10.