From Hell (2001)

Anyone who believes that serial killers and political cover-ups are maladies exclusive to the modern age will be proved wrong by the true crime story From Hell (2001). Initially, we thought the title referred to Johnny Depp since he’s totally hot as Inspector Frederick Abberline. Under the direction of the Hughes Brothers, the sexy brunette is at his best sniffing out the spoors of the Victorian era’s most notorious murderer and mutilator Jack the Ripper. The gruesome ghoul leads deadpan Depp through the teeming alleyways and murky swill holes of smoky London’s pitiless inferno. There, we see creepy crones, crapulous thugs, scurvy johns and shady thieves. The historical drama also includes depictions of real-life people — from Joseph Merrick aka The Elephant Man (Anthony Parker) to a shirtless Prince Albert Victor aka Albert Sickert (Mark Dexter) as well as Ripper’s prostitute victims: Annie Chapman (Katrin Cartlidge), Liz Stride (Susan Lynch), and Martha Tabram (Samantha Spiro). Heather Graham plays Mary Kelly, a lady of the evening who falls for Abberline even though Depp remains buttoned-up. Nevertheless, this period piece just might have you ripping off your trousers to get to your own juicy jack! For those who fancy older flesh, Sir William Gull (Ian Holm) reveals his pegs and chest. Maybe that’s why this horror flick was a box office hit and a spank bank fave despite its depressing setting. No doubt, the fates are bleak for the characters on screen. Yet that won’t stop Mr. Man from having his own happy ending!