Jack’s Back – Movie Review
Director: Rowdy Herrington
Writer: Rowdy Herrington (Screenplay)
Cast
- James Spader (The Watcher)
- Cynthia Gibb (Before I Sleep)
- Jim Haynie (The Fog)
- Robert Picardo (Star Trek Voyager)
- Rod Loomis (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure)
Plot: A serial killer in Los Angeles celebrates Jack the Ripper’s 100th birthday by committing similar murders and only one has a chance of stopping him.
Runtime: 1 Hour 37 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Jack’s Back starts when a serial killer is hunting the streets of LA. They are committing murders that match the Jack the Ripper murders 100 years before. However, John (Spader) witnesses the final murder and in his attempts to get help becomes the latest victim. The police believe he committed the murders too, until his twin brother Rick (Spader) arrives to investigate himself.
Rick’s investigation brings new problems as the real killer wants to continue their killings. However, the police turn their attention to Rick who already has a shady side to him. Can Rick stop the killer and prove he had nothing to do with the murders before it is too late?
Verdict on Jack’s Back
Jack’s Back is an action thriller following a serial killer copying Jack the Ripper. His final victim leaves a witness that he murders and frames. However, their twin brother arrives to tackle the case and uncover the truth.
This movie takes an interesting concept of a serial killer using Jack the Ripper as inspiration. It adds in the sprinkling of twins which could have a connection but are worlds apart. The elements are all there for an interesting thriller, however, it puts too much focus on the aftermath of all the crimes, not the hunting through the crimes. It also relies too heavily on wanting to bring out more twists than it needs after struggling to create a bigger enough suspect pool.
Final Thoughts – Jack’s Back is an interesting late-night thriller.