JACK'S BACK
US, 1987, 97 minutes, Colour.
James Spader, Cynthia Gibb.
Directed by Rowdy Herrington.
Jack's Back is a thriller about a serial killer in Los Angeles. It is the centenary of the murders by Jack the Ripper and they seem to be being repeated in the United States.
The film offers a dual role for James Spader - who is murdered off early in the proceedings (in the Psycho vein) but then reappears as a twin brother.
Cindy Gibb is the leading lady. There are the expected murders, the investigations, the confrontation - and the revelation of the murderer. Conventional enough, done with a touch of excitement. The film was directed by Rowdy Herrington, who went on to make Roadhouse with Patrick Swayze.
1. Entertaining thriller? Investigation? Serial killer? The Jack the Ripper theme?
2. The American city, social problems, police investigations, ordinary citizens? Violence erupting? Stunts and effects? Musical score?
3. The centenary of Jack the Ripper, the imitation murders? Parallels between the 19th and the 20th centuries?
4. John and his work, social concern, Sidney and Jack? His friendship, Chris? His stances? Concern about people, the television interview? His death? The dramatic impact of his death?
5. The prostitute, Jack and the question of the abortion? The hanging? The Jack the Ripper details? The importance of hypnosis? Sidney and Jack? Richard, his dream, the twin brother, the ambulance, the police, the interrogation? Suspicions? The importance of the hypnosis? The angers, visiting the police? Sidney, Chris?
6. Chris, her role with John, with Richard? Charity? Anti-Sidney? The decision to help Richard? Talking things over with him, the sequences at home, being threatened?
7. The nightmare sequences, hypnosis? His seeing Sidney as the murderer?
8. The build-up to the climax, the threats to Chris, Richard and his aggression, Sidney - and the meaning of Sidney as the murderer, the arrangements, covering for him?
9. The popularity of this kind of thriller? Plausibility? Theme of twins, ESP? The Jack the Ripper parallels?
