Jack the Ripper (2025): A Haunting New Vision of History’s Most Infamous Killer
Jack the Ripper (2025) reimagines the chilling legend of one of history’s most notorious and mysterious serial killers in a bold, psychological thriller directed by acclaimed filmmaker Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Lighthouse, The Northman). Known for his eerie, atmospheric storytelling, Eggers brings his signature style to Victorian London, immersing viewers in the fog-drenched alleyways and crumbling tenements of Whitechapel — the hunting ground of the infamous killer.
Set during the height of the Ripper's reign of terror in 1888, the film offers a unique narrative twist: rather than following the traditional route of crime investigation, Jack the Ripper unfolds from multiple, intertwining perspectives. Among them are a traumatized police inspector (played by Ralph Fiennes), a resourceful and defiant sex worker named Eliza (Anya Taylor-Joy), and an enigmatic American journalist covering the murders (played by Paul Mescal). Each character provides a piece of the puzzle, though the full truth remains elusive — much like the real historical case.
Eggers leans heavily into the horror elements of the story. The film is not a typical whodunit; instead, it explores fear, paranoia, and moral decay in a society where justice and power are increasingly detached. The Ripper remains a shadowy figure throughout, rarely seen clearly, adding to the unsettling dread. His presence is suggested more than shown — in eerie footprints in the fog, bloodstains in the moonlight, or strange whispers in the dark. The killer’s identity, as in history, is never definitively revealed, leaving room for psychological and symbolic interpretations.
Anya Taylor-Joy delivers a stunning performance as Eliza, a woman trying to escape the deadly streets while haunted by her past and hunted by something far worse. Her story is one of resilience in the face of violence, and through her, the film offers a sharp critique of Victorian misogyny and classism. Ralph Fiennes, portraying the emotionally unraveling detective, brings both authority and vulnerability, while Paul Mescal’s outsider perspective offers a modern commentary on media exploitation and obsession with violence.
Visually, Jack the Ripper (2025) is a masterwork. Shot in harsh greys and flickering lamplight, the film’s production design meticulously recreates the grimy, claustrophobic ambiance of 19th-century London. The use of period-accurate language, costumes, and locations gives the film a documentary-like realism, while its dreamlike editing and disturbing sound design blur the line between reality and nightmare.
Critics are already hailing Jack the Ripper as one of the most daring historical thrillers of the decade. Rather than offering answers, the film confronts audiences with unsettling questions: What creates a monster like Jack? Is he one man, or many? And why does society remain fascinated — and complicit — in his legacy?
By focusing on mood, psychology, and the social fabric of the time, Jack the Ripper (2025) emerges not just as a crime film, but as a haunting exploration of evil, both individual and systemic. It is a chilling reminder that the darkness of the past still echoes in the present.
