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Jack's Back
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray A - America - Shout! Factory Review written by and copyright: Anthony Arrigo (23rd February 2016). |
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The Film
 Back before writer/director Rowdy Herrington graced cinemas with the throat-ripping Patrick Swayze classic “Road House” (1989), and before actor James Spader was noted for always being the creepiest guy in a film – regardless of whether or not his role was intended to be creepy – the two teamed up for a somewhat novel slasher film produced to capitalize on the 100-year anniversary of Jack the Ripper’s notorious murders. “Jack’s Back” (1988) posits that a copycat killer has begun to replicate The Ripper’s sadistic Whitechapel murders on the exact dates on which they occurred, a full century later. Based on Scream Factory’s cover art (which uses the theatrical key art) and the casting of Spader, first-time viewers might think Spader is the perpetrator of the crimes therein. Spoiler alert: he’s not. James Spader pulls double duty here, playing twin brothers John & Rick Wesford. The former is a novice doctor who finds himself caught up in Los Angeles’ Ripper chaos when he pays a visit to a pregnant hooker who had an appointment at the free clinic where he works earlier that day. Upon arrival, he finds the girl dead and one of his co-workers, fittingly (?) named Jack (Rex Ryon), who exclaims he was only there to give the lady an abortion; he didn’t kill her. John gives chase when Jack bails, with the two convening at the clinic where they work. Rather than trying to explain the night’s occurrences, Jack freaks out that John will turn him in for the Ripper slayings… so he kills him and stages it to look like a suicide. This is certainly the most logical course of action when trying to prove you are not a killer. The cops, anxious to wrap up the case and set the city at ease, finger John as the suspect. He’s got medical knowledge, he had contact with the final victim, and he (apparently) killed himself out of guilt. But when John’s twin brother Rick shows up, he suggests a different theory. Rick had a dream the night before in which he “saw” John’s killer, and although the two brothers never had any telepathic twin experiences before he’s convinced this is legit. So, off he goes on a quest to find the man who killed his brother, who may or may not also be the new Ripper. Spoiler alert: he’s not. Herrington’s film in some ways plays more like an American giallo and less a standard slasher. Attempts are made to establish red herrings; even characters that would seemingly have no motivation to be the killer are teased as possible suspects. The mystery, however, isn’t as cryptic as it would like to think it is, and any well-versed horror-phile should be able to discern who is the real faux-Ripper early on. A stronger case for Jack being the killer might have been made if the film didn’t establish his absence during the pregnant woman’s demise. He shows up back at her place after John arrives – why would he return to the scene of a heinous crime when there’s a high likelihood of being caught? Exactly. There is a slowing of momentum during the second act, with Rick doing his best sleuthing work while the cops scramble about after realizing they may not have their man after all. Rick teams up with Female Co-Star and tries to figure out a way to clear his brother’s name. All the while, there are no additional killings taking place since the movie establishes at the onset there’s only one more on the books for this new Ripper to replicate. It isn’t until we arrive at the third act, with its stilted climax, before things get interesting again. I say “stilted” because the film becomes a Rick vs. Jack battle, yet all the while viewers should know by now Jack isn’t the killer and therefore are simply waiting for the reveal to finally happen. It does, but it’s during a coda that feels tacked-on. Ever so slightly above average, “Jack’s Back” is a minor success thanks to a novel premise and the casting of Spader in the lead role. Horror fans might get a bit antsy after the tense first act leads into a lull of a second act with no additional on-screen kills to punch it up. The story relies on the enigma of who is the new Ripper to captivate audiences, but as I said earlier virtually anyone familiar with horror cinema should be able to piece this puzzle together long before anyone else doing investigative work.
Video
The 1.85:1 1080p 24/fps AVC MPEG-4 encoded picture has been given a new high-definition transfer from the original negative, as per the press release notes, and although this has certainly aided in ensuring the picture here is presented free of damage and speckling, viewers shouldn’t expect a stellar image. The low-budget nature of the production means there are inherent issues – such as softness and a general lack of fine detail – that I would suspect even a brand new 4K re-master couldn’t ameliorate. Still, given the source materials this picture exhibits an accurate, natural color palette, a healthy layer of film grain, smoky atmospherics and reasonably good saturation.
Audio
The contemporary 80's score is capably carried by the film’s English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono track. The sound mix is clear and balanced, with dialogue nicely supported. The score vacillates between eerie cues and sultry/jazzy bits. There are no remarkable moments to boost dynamics, but the good fidelity means you’re hearing it just as it was presented nearly thirty years ago. Subtitles are included in English.
Extras
Scream Factory’s Blu-ray comes with a couple of standard extra features, including an audio commentary, retrospective featurette and a theatrical trailer. Writer/director Rowdy Herrington is on hand for an informative Rowdy Herrington audio commentary track that runs the gamut, from career beginnings to securing this gig and more. This is by no means a must-hear track, though if you appreciate the film and Herrington’s work then it’s probably worth a listen. “The Making of “Jack’s Back”” (1080p) is a featurette that runs for 23 minutes and 51 seconds. Herrington provides the bulk of the details uncovered here, as Spader isn’t a participant. Bummer. This piece gets into the film’s genesis, shooting schedule, lighting decisions, casting and more. The theatrical trailer (1080p) runs for 57 seconds.
Packaging
The single disc comes housed in a standard Blu-ray keep case.
Overall
Herrington’s debut is a competent thriller, bolstered by a solid leading role from Spader and a genuinely interesting concept. Some aspects certainly could have been taken further to increase a sense of mystery and tension, though what did wind up making it to the screen makes for a fine viewing experience.
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