Hands of the Ripper

10/4/2021

_**Beware: the daughter of Jack the Ripper is on the loose**_ In 1906 London the troubled daughter of Jack the Ripper (Angharad Rees) is taken in by a sympathetic Freudian psychologist (Eric Porter) who wants to study her condition and “fix” her, but she’s soon prowling the Whitechapel district. Jane Merrow, Keith Bell and Derek Godfrey are also on hand. “Hands of the Ripper” (1971) is Victorian horror from Hammer that’s similar to their previous “The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll” (1960), but less psychologically fascinating or entertaining. Actually the doctor’s mental condition is more interesting than that of the girl he’s studying: He pulls a "Vertigo" on her by giving her his late wife's room, providing Anna her clothes to wear and is obsessed with healing her because he couldn'

1/25/2025

This is quite an intriguing take on the established "Ripper" murders - as seen through he eyes of his daughter. She's but a bairn when she sees him at work and is unsurprisingly traumatised by the whole experience. Now grown to adulthood, "Anna" (Angharad Rees) finds herself the unwitting agent of a psychological impulse to continue in her father's stead. The sympathetic doctor "Pritchard" (Eric Porter) tries to apply some of elementary Victorian psychology to the investigation in the hope that he may be able to unlock this mystery and help out. Perhaps even find out the true identity of the original killer? Sadly, though, this is a deep rooted trouble that his good will isn't going to wish away. Indeed, after about half an hour we all realise that it's going to take something altogether m

5/9/2026

Exploring the psychology of murder This has the tell-tale signs of a Hammer production, but it does not stray as far as some as the others into incredulity, but instead remains somewhat grounded in its own narrative consistency. It is superbly acted and well-directed, looks and sounds great, and carries itself well. Of course you can harp about the production quality, but this is from 1971, and allowances have to be made. It is a good movie, especially for its kind.