Jack's Back (1988)

Director:

Rowdy Herrington

Writer:

Rowdy Herrington (written by)

Release Date:

6 May 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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)

Plot:

A serial killer in Los Angeles celebrates Jack the Ripper's 100th birthday by committing similar murders.

Plot Keywords:

Jack The Ripper | Twins | Serial Killer | Miranda Warning | Psychiatrist

Awards:

1 nomination

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

Also Known As:

Red Rain (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M (video rating) | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

2nd Street Tunnel, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Palissades Entertainment

Quotes:

John: [dressing the old woman's hand wound] "You free Saturday night?"

Soundtrack:

Back in my Arms Again

Obscure little thriller

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!