This is one of those films you really shouldn't enjoy but you do because it at least makes some vague effort to be more intelligent than it is; pitching Captain Deerstalker against Commando-Top-Hat-And-Carving-Knife may seem clich?d now but this was the first film to do it. The plot is a little closer to the facts than Jess Franco's JACK THE RIPPER but not much. At least the names of the victims are more or less historically correct (althought the ripper's victims) are tastefully stabbed, rather than sliced, diced pickled and carved, and we never get to see what state they are in once Jack has finished with them (its all lift the sheet, police, detectives and doctors wince and say things like "could a human being have done this?") but if you're a Holmes fan you're in good, well, good-ish hands here. Neville's Holmes is adequate. Once you watch him the first time you'll think he's refreshingly different but see the movie again and you'll realise he does not actually add anything new to the part; he does not have the authority of Rathbone, the mysteriousness of Stephens or the... well, the EVERYTHING of Brett (the camp lunacy for one) but he does a good job none the less. Houston's Watson isn't so good. The script is written to allow an intelligent performance but Houston is a little to blustering for it to come across. Plotwise the movie doesn't take chances, simply going for an entirely fictional approach to the mystery so don't bother if you're a Ripperologist, but if you're a fan of Holmes try to catch it (though don't go out of your way). An entertaining diversion.