Johnny Depp stars as Inspector Abberline, the Victorian detective charged with catching Jack the Ripper, in this big screen adaptation of Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell's acclaimed graphic novel. Despite the fact that he is struggling with an opium addiction and the ghosts of his dead wife and child, Abberline nevertheless quickly discovers that the Ripper is a man with an expert's knowledge of human anatomy and some kind of connection to the Freemasons. As his investigations continue, he meets prostitute Mary Kelly (Heather Graham) and following her leads discovers that the killings are connected to people in the highest reaches of British society; but as he gets closer to revealing the culprit, both he and Mary find themselves in mortal danger.

In 1970's Scotland, young Bess meets and falls in love with oil rig worker Jan. Despite opposition they marry, and when Jan returns to the rigs Bess counts the days until his return. After Jan is paralysed in an accident, he urges Bess to take a lover and relate their sexual acts to him. The soundtrack includes music by David Bowie and T-Rex.

In 1970's Scotland, young Bess meets and falls in love with oil rig worker Jan. Despite opposition they marry, and when Jan returns to the rigs Bess counts the days until his return. After Jan is paralysed in an accident, he urges Bess to take a lover and relate their sexual acts to him. The soundtrack includes music by David Bowie and T-Rex.