Review: Hands of the Ripper

 Set in Victorian London, with Eric Porter plays a doctor and disciple of Sigmund Freud who becomes obsessed with the case of Angharad Rees, accused of killing her guardian (Dora Bryan), a phony medium. The supposed theory is that Rees is somehow possessed by the spirit of Jack the Ripper, but Porter believes there has to be a rational, psychological explanation and puts her under hypnosis to find it and cure her. Meanwhile, more ripping murders keep occurring in London. Derek Godfrey plays a sleazy politician who pays Bryan for the ‘right’ to take Rees’ virginity and subsequently witnesses Bryan’s brutal murder. Keith Bell and Jane Merrow play Porter’s son and his sweet-natured, blind wife respectively.

 

A solid but clearly overpopulated 1971 Hammer film from director Peter Sasdy (“Taste the Blood of Dracula”, “Countess Dracula”). Scripted by L.W. Davidson (who wrote three episodes of “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour”) from a short story by Edward Spencer Shew there’s plenty to like here but it’s also a film that could’ve been better with less characters. Did the film really need two psychic mediums? Because I’m not even certain that it really needed one. On the plus side, this film and “Vampire Circus” are clearly the most violent Hammer films. In fact, perhaps that’s what the film needed, more killing to whittle down the numbers. However, when the violence does come – holy shit. Knitting needles in the eyes is all I’ll say. Nasty stuff. The finale is really well-done too, almost artistic for Hammer.

 

Despite some not very convincing blind acting, Jane Merrow’s sweetness and likeability win you over, lead actress Angharad Rees is also solid in a tricky role, and Eric Porter is pitch-perfect casting as our Sigmund Freud substitute. Admittedly his character isn’t entirely convincing, but you end up going along with it on the strength of Porter’s performance. The Machiavellian-looking Derek Godfrey plays such a convincing slimeball in this you can’t wait to see him get his just desserts. He steals his every second. Norman Bird and Dora Bryan do good work in small support, too.

 

Although not quite top tier Hammer, this one’s good enough to make you wish it were even better. Too many characters showing up in this one competing for screen time, and Porter’s behaviour doesn’t quite convince. Still, it’s violent, nasty, and interesting. 

 

Rating: B-

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