STARRING: Johnny Depp, Heather Graham, Robbie Coltrane and Ian Holm

The first time I ever encountered Jack the Ripper was that old "Star Trek" episode were Scotty is accused of killing the chick on that belly-dancing planet. It turns out there’s this evil amorphous entity that has been planet hopping for centuries, turning innocent men into literal lady-killers — including the Ripper himself.

The next time I ran into him was during "Time After Time" with Malcolm McDowell’s H.G. Wells chasing David Warner’s Jack from 19^th Century London to 20^th Century San Francisco. McDowell was a tad goofy, but Warner was pretty good. The flick never really lived up to its potential, but it’s okay entertainment. It was written and directed by Nicholas Meyer, who gets props for following this flick with "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" — still the best one in the series, if you ask me.

Johnny Depp's performance is a mixture of melancholy and passionate resolve.

The Ripper legend always interested me as a kid, but it never grew beyond the typical prepubescent fascination with things that go bump in the night. I wasn’t captivated by the remarkable complexities of the case until college. During a semester in London, I received my first substantial taste of Ripper lore during a tour of the actual Whitechapel murder scenes.

Before that tour, Jack the Ripper was a faceless boogeyman. I never knew the real life intricacies and brutality of his crimes. He was just dark and creepy. A reason to keep a flashlight shining under the covers after mom turned out the lights. Afterwards, the many theories behind the killer’s identity and the multiple layers to the story continued to intrigue me. The Ripper case is all at once a spellbinding mystery, a chilling social commentary, and a compelling horror tale. But perhaps its biggest appeal is still that childhood fear of a menacing stranger stalking you down a blind alley.

Directors Albert and Allen Hughes ("Menace II Society" and "Dead Presidents") have woven all those elements into a brooding and engrossing new thriller. Working with screenwriters Terry Hayes ("The Road Warrior") and Rafael Yglesias ("Fearless"), The Hughes Brothers have skillfully adapted Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell’s acclaimed graphic novel, "From Hell," into a gripping film.

"From Hell" is an enthralling detective story wrapped in the cloak of a horror film.

The movie begins in the grimy Whitechapel district of London in 1888, where prostitutes are being murdered and mutilated by a mysterious assailant. The police think the killer must be a member of the lower classes because of the crime’s brutal nature, but it soon becomes obvious that only a wealthy and intelligent man could perpetrate these acts. The media exploits the case’s lurid elements while an entire city becomes gripped in fear. The filmmakers use the class conflict of that time to explore the impact the murders must have had on every level of British society.

The Hughes Brothers have produced a film with a period setting, but a contemporary feel. They have transformed modern Prague into 19^th Century London (via superior production design and sumptuous computer graphics) while fashioning a story closer in spirit to films like "Seven" and "Silence of the Lambs." "From Hell" is more a "whodunit" than a splatter film. The murder scenes are graphic, but not exploitive. The filmmakers use gore to help tell their story, but it’s not the centerpiece.

Some might want to draw comparisons between this film and Tim Burton’s "Sleepy Hollow," simply because it’s another film where Johnny Depp plays a detective hunting a legendary villain. However, there are few similarities beyond ambitious production design and the same leading man. "From Hell" is a much darker and grittier film. It’s more based in reality than Burton’s flashy ghost story.

Heather Graham looks too "Hollywood" for her role.

Johnny Depp is equally good in both productions, but his Frederick Abberline is a much fuller character than Ichabod Crane. Abberline is the inspector investigating the slayings and this film’s flawed hero. He is a haunted man, one who dulls the pain in his life with opium and absinthe. It’s the visions he experiences while under the influence that help him track down the killer.

Depp was an adroit casting choice. He plays the character with a successful mixture of melancholy and passionate resolve. Abberline’s determined to crack the case because it’s just about all he has left. Further incentive is provided by Heather Graham ("Boogie Nights"), playing one of the prostitutes targeted by the Ripper. Abberline tries to get her off the streets and ultimately falls for her. Her redemption becomes as much his goal as catching the killer.

Graham and Depp have decent chemistry, but overall, she is simply adequate in the role. My biggest complaint is that she’s so much better looking than the other prostitutes. Graham was certainly cast partially for her good looks so I can’t really blame her. The filmmakers obviously wanted a beautiful woman for the part, but Graham looks too "Hollywood" standing next to her dingy co-stars. You really don’t believe that she’s one of them. However, audiences probably would have balked at Depp getting all starry-eyed over someone less attractive. Sometimes you just have to accept that you’re only watching a movie.

Robbie Coltrane is a wonderful counterpoint to Depp's slender and morose detective.

Rounding out the cast are Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid in the upcoming Harry Potter movie) as Abberline’s partner and Ian Holm (Bilbo Baggins in the eagerly anticipated "Lord of the Rings" films) as a celebrated physician who Abberline consults about the case. Both are exceptional. Coltrane’s beefy frame and caustic delivery are a wonderful counterpoint to Depp’s slender and morose detective. Holm’s importance to the story grows throughout the film. His wise benevolence in early scenes with Depp makes his work later in the film even more striking.

Those unfamiliar with either the original graphic novel or Jack the Ripper lore will find the identity of the killer surprising. Those of you in the know should be satisfied by the filmmakers’ mostly faithful adaptation. Even though I knew the ending, I greatly enjoyed watching all the pieces fit into place. "From Hell" is an enthralling detective story wrapped in the cloak of a horror film. The Hughes Brothers, along with an accomplished cast and crew, have crafted a stark and moody tale — one fitting to be told in the dark.