Jess Franco’s “Jack the Ripper,” released in 1976, offers a competent take on the infamous serial killer who terrorized London's Whitechapel district, featuring Klaus Kinski as the central figure. It's important to remember that the real-life murderer was never caught, so any film that identifies him is purely fictional. The movie evokes Victorian horror similar to Hammer’s "Hands of the Ripper" (1971) and "The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll" (1960). I'd say “Dr. Jekyll” is superior, but this one is roughly on par with it. I know "The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll" involves the made-up Mr. Hyde, but there’s a connection between them because Stevenson’s novella came out about two and a half years before the Ripper killings began. The London stage production of “Dr. Jekyll” in 1888 even had to be stopped because of the widespread panic surrounding the Ripper murders; people who were simply portraying killers on stage became suspects. If you want an inexpensive, visually striking film that blends these two figures, consider "Edge of Sanity" (1989) starring Anthony Perkins. Like “Edge of Sanity,” this movie doesn’t shy away from showing the killer's cruelty and depravity, so expect some unpleasantness and graphic scenes, which feel appropriate given the subject matter. If you’re looking for a Victorian setting with dark coats, London fog, cobblestone streets, gaslights, attractive women, burlesque shows, a terrifying killer, and rich colors, "Jack the Ripper" should satisfy. It serves as an early model for “From Hell” (2001). Lina Romay (not the American singer) is memorable as Marika, a brunette cabaret dancer. She was essentially Franco’s long-term assistant director—they officially married in 2008 and he died a year later from a stroke. There are other women who make an impression too. I should mention that there's some nudity; one slender actress appears completely nude, so be aware of that. The film has a running time of 1 hour, 31 minutes, and was filmed in Zürich, Switzerland, which is about fifteen miles from the border with southwestern Germany. Some establishing shots were done in London. GRADE: B

Source on TMDB