The new gothic thriller From Hell is an absolute milestone for the Hughes Brothers. They struggled mighty hard to bring this tale of Jack the Ripper to the big screen. And while their latest effort is major departure from Menace II Society, and Dead Presidents, it does have a little in common with their last picture, the little seen documentary gem American Pimp. Set in London in the late 1800's, From Hell does feature a number of pimps. Of course they have little to do with this dark, and breathtaking masterpiece.

As stated earlier, this is a story about Jack the Ripper, a notorious murderer who stalked prostitutes in the night. From Hell is also about the opium-addicted investigator (Johnny Depp) hot on Jack's tracks.

His investigation starts with one of the surviving prostitutes, a good hearted woman played by a subtle Heather Graham. Depp is as solid as ever as Fred Abberline, and while this character will certainly draw comparisons to the part he played in Sleepy Hollow, there are big differences. This character is a bit more structured and much more serious. From Hell also benefits from an outstanding supporting cast including Graham, Robbie Coltrane, and Ian Holm.

At times, this film is very hard to watch. True, it features a good share of gore, but the film's most discomforting moments are implied through discussion, sound effects and masterful editing. Still, this is not a movie for the faint of heart.

From Hell is a combination of many styles. It has obviously been inspired by the works of David Fincher, William Friedkin, and David Lynch (the Elephant Man, John Merrick even makes a cameo). And while this could be considered a horror film (complete with some truly grisly images), it is a classy and intellectual one, opting to scare the audience with it's unsettling atmosphere. From Hell is also an old fashioned whodunit and while I did have an idea who the killer was, I admired the film's complexities and was completely satisfied by the outcome. Credit the film makers for shifting suspicion from one character to the next (think Usual Suspects). Better still, From Hell has a dramatic weight to it that sets it apart from other films of the genre.

From Hell couldn't be more prophetic given the current status in America. One might even draw comparisons between Jack the Ripper and Osama bin Laden. Both are Terrorists and believe what they are doing is justifiable. Clearly, they're both out of their minds.