As a FrightFest first blood feature, The Haunting at Jack the Ripper’s House is a mildly entertaining but sadly confused haunted house flick. By the time we reach the final act, and a top hat-wearing Jack appears with a face covered by a nylon stocking, all the good work of the previous haunting segments is undone, as the film scrambles to find a fitting conclusion. It’s the equivalent of climbing Tower Bridge only to fall off it unceremoniously just a metre from the top. Still, at least we have a great final boy and girl to guide the fall, as the film unfortunately sinks like a stone into the murkiest depths of the Thames.
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Who was Jack the Ripper? It is one of the most enduring serial killer mysteries of all time, and in reality, we will likely never know for sure. From Montague John Druitt, a barrister who moonlighted as a bar worker and an assistant schoolmaster, to junior surgeon George Chapman, otherwise known as Severin Klosowski, the list of potential killers has grown, shrunk, and evolved, with no clear name emerging.
Alongside Chapman and Druitt, one of the original suspects was Aaron Mordke Kosminski, a Polish-born tailor’s son living in Whitechapel. In Stephen Staley and Natasha Tosini’s First Blood premiere at this year’s FrightFest, The Haunting at Jack the Ripper’s House, the riddle has finally been solved through DNA, and Kozminski has been proven to be the infamous killer. His mansion (in reality, Kozminski died a pauper in Leavesden Asylum, Hertfordshire) has now become a magnet for spectral discussions, as it sits empty, oddly nowhere near Whitechapel, cared for by a man who never ventures inside.
There’s a well-known saying, “Fake it till you make it,” and for a young group of paranormal investigators on YouTube, it has become their secret mantra. Haunt Hunters, otherwise known as founding members Richard (Jack Hyde), Jake (Jack Hoy), and their ghost hunting gang, Belle (Natasha Tosini), Joe (Will Wickham), Darren (Stephen Staley), and Demi (Kelly Rian Sanson) have taken the internet by storm with their online homage to Most Haunted, without a Liverpudlian psychic who proclaims “Mary loves dick” when channelling the dead.
Like many supernatural investigation groups, Haunt Hunters’ success isn’t built on genuine ghost sightings, but rather a host of tricks that give their viral haunting videos an extra bite. With the lovable Joe and tech-savvy Darren as the masters of tricks and treats, and Jake taking the lead in presenting, they strive to attract new viewers and generate more revenue, no matter the cost to the truth.
However, fractures are beginning to appear between the two founders, Jake and Richard. As the film opens, Richard is unceremoniously removed from the group due to his concerns over fake content. Richard is also concerned about Jake’s proposed filming at the house of Jack the Ripper, a location he believes the group should avoid due to its reputation. But nothing is going to stop Jake, and after buying access to the property from the creepy owner, the Haunt Hunters seal the deal to film the video that will make them all stars, not just on YouTube, but in broader media circles. Little do they know that the Haunt Hunters are about to meet their match in an old Victorian residence that lets people in but never allows them to leave.
As a first blood feature, made on a shoestring budget, The Haunting at Jack the Ripper’s House is a conundrum. On the one hand, its premise is utterly ridiculous, as it playfully manipulates historical fact while never truly delving into the horror of the Jack the Ripper case. If this film had been set in Whitechapel and explored the true horror of Jack’s murders, as well as the unknown identity of the man with a surgeon’s toolkit, it could have struck gold despite its limited budget. But alas, it opts for a story that never leans into history, despite a few nods in that direction and a title that really shouldn’t have been changed from the original “Viral Haunt.”
However, let’s set aside the fumbled Jack the Ripper storyline and focus on the haunted house aspect of Stephen Staley and Natasha Tosini’s film. Some genuinely good scenes mid-way through the film carry all the ingredients and atmosphere of the classic haunted house movie, despite the budget restrictions. Equally engaging are the performances, which, while battling some clunky dialogue, pull us into the world of Haunt Hunters’ “fake it till you make it” principles. Here, The Haunting at Jack the Ripper’s House carries an at times cutting dialogue on the need for online attention and adoration, even if that means cutting corners and engaging in deceit to get it.
As a FrightFest first blood feature, The Haunting at Jack the Ripper’s House is a mildly entertaining but sadly confused haunted house flick. By the time we reach the final act, and a top hat-wearing Jack appears with a face covered by a nylon stocking, all the good work of the previous haunting segments is undone, as the film scrambles to find a fitting conclusion. It’s the equivalent of climbing Tower Bridge only to fall off it unceremoniously just a metre from the top. Still, at least we have a great final boy and girl to guide the fall, as the film unfortunately sinks like a stone into the murkiest depths of the Thames.
The Haunting at Jack the Ripper’s House is awaiting a UK-wide release date.
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