Jack's Back's main gimmick is that the film was released exactly 100 years after the Jack the Ripper murders; it sees a copy-cat serial killer murdering prostitutes in Los Angeles in exactly the same manner as the infamous Whitechapel murderer. The film also features a pretty decent twist, in which John (James Spader), who we assume to be the main character, is killed early on, before the introduction of his twin brother Rick (also Spader) as the real protagonist.
Presumed to be the copy-cat killer by the police, John is declared to have killed himself before he could be caught; however, having seen his twin's murder in a dream, Rick knows that John was innocent and tries to bring the real killer to justice, with the help of pretty trainee medic Chris Moscari (Cynthia Gibb). The charismatic Spader handles both roles brilliantly, giving each brother his own distinct personality (John is saintly, while Rick is a bit of a bad boy), and writer/director Rowdy Herrington handles the twisty-turny plot with skill and style, giving his film a wonderful neo-noir style atmosphere.
Solid support comes from Gibb as the girl who we all know will be targeted by the killer at the end, Robert Picardo as possible red herring psychologist Dr. Carlos Battera, and Rex Ryon as creepy hulk/backstreet abortionist Jack Pendler, who is guilty of many things - but is he the L. A. Ripper?
6.5/10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb.
Presumed to be the copy-cat killer by the police, John is declared to have killed himself before he could be caught; however, having seen his twin's murder in a dream, Rick knows that John was innocent and tries to bring the real killer to justice, with the help of pretty trainee medic Chris Moscari (Cynthia Gibb). The charismatic Spader handles both roles brilliantly, giving each brother his own distinct personality (John is saintly, while Rick is a bit of a bad boy), and writer/director Rowdy Herrington handles the twisty-turny plot with skill and style, giving his film a wonderful neo-noir style atmosphere.
Solid support comes from Gibb as the girl who we all know will be targeted by the killer at the end, Robert Picardo as possible red herring psychologist Dr. Carlos Battera, and Rex Ryon as creepy hulk/backstreet abortionist Jack Pendler, who is guilty of many things - but is he the L. A. Ripper?
6.5/10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb.