Hands of the Ripper

Saturday 9 May, 8.30pm

HANDS OF THE RIPPER
Dir. Peter Sasdy GB 1971 85 mins (adv 15)
Eric Porter, Angharad Rees, Jane Merrow, Keith Bell, Derek Godfrey
 

 

An intelligent, polished and visceral period piece focusing on the unfortunate Anna, daughter of Jack the Ripper, who has inherited her father’s homicidal impulses. Freudian psychiatrist Dr. Pritchard (Porter) foolishly believes he can cure Anna but as the corpses mount up he comes to realise his mistake… One of Hammer’s finest horrors, Hands of the Ripper is an intriguing and finely detailed slice of Victoriana that packs the screen with gruesomeness and tension. Angharad Rees is deliciously tortured as the pretty knife-wielding lass and Eric Porter assumes the traditional Cushing/Lee role as the liberal doctor. This is Peter Sasdy’s personal favourite and presented during FANTASTIQ III in his honour. Happy 80^th birthday, Peter!