AllMovie

Like a lot of the 'violent pink' cinema from Japan, Assault! Jack The Ripper is technically impressive but hard to like. Simply put, this film is not for the faint of heart: the storyline is a no-punches-pulled exploration of sexual sadism and it forces the viewer to wallow in the gruesome, perverse nature of sexual-minded serial killers. Assault! Jack The Ripper also keeps the viewer at a distance by making few attempts to humanize its anti-heroes and never making direct commentary on the morality of their deeds. The end result exists in a fetishized vacuum, devoid of emotions or humanity. That said, Assault! Jack The Ripper can't be shrugged off as an amoral slab of exploitation. For one thing, it's a very artfully made film: Yasuharu Hasebe's direction is elegant, using carefully composed visuals and sleek easy-listening music to enhance the distancing effect created by the storyline and Yutake Hayashi and Tamaki Katsura deliver committed, intense performances as the murderous duo that drives the film. Ultimately, a viewer's response to Assault! Jack The Ripper will depend upon their appreciation for films devoted to smashing taboos -- and anyone interested should approach with caution.