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Jack's Back (1988)
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Overview
User Rating:
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Director:
Writer:
Rowdy Herrington (written by)
Release Date:
6 May 1988 (USA)
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Tagline:
One hundred years ago in the city of London a man shocked the world by murdering, raping and mutilating five women. He was never caught. (Video Australia) more
Plot:
A serial killer in Los Angeles celebrates Jack the Ripper's 100th birthday by committing similar murders. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
1 nomination
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NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
Lost In Numbers: The Final Season's Fifteen Series Regulars
(From MTV Movies Blog. 27 January 2010, 12:00 PM, PST)
Lost Catch-Up: Where We Left Off with Hugo "Hurley" Reyes
(From TVGuide - Breaking News. 25 January 2010, 7:00 PM, PST)
(From MTV Movies Blog. 27 January 2010, 12:00 PM, PST)
Lost Catch-Up: Where We Left Off with Hugo "Hurley" Reyes
(From TVGuide - Breaking News. 25 January 2010, 7:00 PM, PST)
User Reviews:
Obscure little thriller
more (22 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| James Spader | ... | John / Rick Westford | |
| Cynthia Gibb | ... | Chris Moscari | |
| Jim Haynie | ... | Sgt. Gabriel | |
| Robert Picardo | ... | Dr. Carlos Battera | |
| Rod Loomis | ... | Dr. Sidney Tannerson | |
| Rex Ryon | ... | Jack Pendler | |
| Chris Mulkey | ... | Scott Morofsky | |
| Wendell Wright | ... | Capt. Walter Prentis | |
| John Wesley | ... | Sam Hilliard | |
| Bobby Hosea | ... | Tom Dellerton | |
| Danitza Kingsley | ... | Denise Johnson | |
| Anne Betancourt | ... | Mary | |
| Diane Erickson | ... | Andrea Banks | |
| Sis Greenspon | ... | Martha | |
| Graham Timbes | ... | Surgeon |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Red Rain (USA) (working title)
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Runtime:
97 min
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Soundtrack:
Back in my Arms Again
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This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (22 total)
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Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Jack's Back (1988)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
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| Details I must have overlooked somehow ... | zany_beat |
| Soundtrack | oisinm |
| DVD release | ficathon |
| This movie rocks. | pizowell |
Recommendations
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An updating of Jack the Ripper made on the centennial of his infamous murders.
A murderer in Los Angeles is imitating Jack the Ripper--he kills only prostitutes and in the exact same way Jack did. Idealistic kind doctor John Westford (James Spader) stumbles into the last killing and finds a coworker there who said he didn't do it. This leads to a fight, a very unpleasant killing....and a plot twist that will either have you laughing out loud (in disbelief) or thinking "what the f*** where they thinking"? Obviously I'm not going to give it away--but it comes about 30 minutes in--your reaction to the twist will determine how you like the movie. If you accept it you might like it. If you find it totally ridiculous (like me) you'll probably hate the movie.
Also this is being sold as a horror movie. Hardly. There is one bloody killing and another unpleasant one...but that's it. This is a murder mystery--you try to figure out who the killer is. The acting varies. The supporting cast is very good but the two leads aren't. Cynthia Gibb is TERRIBLE as the love interest. As for Spader...he's an excellent actor but way too laid back for this role. Also the movie just looks ugly.
So...an OK murder mystery--but a bad script and some miscast actors really hurt it. I can only give it a 5. You might just want to watch the beginning for the twist--it IS quite different!