From Hell
From Hell is a graphic novel by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell speculating upon the identity and motives of Jack the Ripper. It was first published in 12 issues by Tundra Publishing/Kitchen Sink Press, then reissued in paperback by Eddie Campbell Comics. In 2001, it was made into a film by the Hughes Brothers, starring Johnny Depp.
Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.
From Hell takes as its premise Stephen Knight's theory—widely criticised by researchers—that the murders were part of a vast conspiracy to conceal the birth of an illegitimate royal baby. In the story, Queen Victoria employs royal physician Sir William Withey Gull to kill those with knowledge of the child, relying on Gull's Masonic connections to aid in concealing his actions. The story also serves as an in-depth (though mostly fictional, and admittedly speculative) character study of Gull; exploring his personal philosophy and motivation, and making sense of his dual role as royal assassin and serial killer.
In an appendix added to the collected From Hell, Moore writes that he did not accept Knight's theory at face value, but considered it an interesting starting point for his own fictional examination of the Ripper murders.
While From Hell is admittedly fiction, Moore and Campbell conducted an enormous amount of research to ensure plausibility and verisimilitude. The collected From Hell features over forty pages of notes and references.
The film
Moore's and Campbell's book was filmed in 2001 by the Hughes Brothers. It was first released on September 8, 2001 at the Venice Film Festival.
This film has been criticised for changing many details of the source, and effectively remaking the story into a whodunit. It received mixed reviews and performed rather poorly at the box office, earning only $31.6 million in domestic receipts.
As usual with film adaptations of his works, Alan Moore refused to be involved with the script.
Starring:
