Jill Rips

At first I thought, "What the hell is Dolph Lundgren doing upside down?" And then I watched the movie. This one really surprised me because of all the movies he could do he did this. But it was not at all what I had initially thought it to be. Yes there is bondage. Yes there is prostitution and yes there are moments you feel somewhat uncomfortable. (I did) But we have a man who comes home to the funeral of his newlywed brother and finds himself looking for answers and finds them in the strangest places and with the strangest people.

He is met with domination prostitutes, S and M clubs, a house of domination, and even a submissive that is anything but. In the end he does find who is responsible for the murder of his brother and the serial murders surrounding certain people. It just turns out to be the one person he doesn't want to see go to jail. On a side note: Lundgren further surprised me in one particular scene in which he is asked why he did something in his past and the answer he gives is one that made me stop and rewind.

He was brilliant.

His recollection of what had happened moved me and made me see what others may not and may never.

Dolph Lundgren can act.

When given well written material Lundgren can actually do something with it. This movie may not have made it to theaters but his performance made me realize that he's not a bad actor; he's just an actor that needs good material and a supporting cast that care about the craft.

So I'm writing this one up as a well-liked movie. Yes I own it and yes, I've seen it multiple times and I wish that he was given the chance to be just as brilliant in other movies as he was in this one. And no, not every scene was perfect but then again, not every movie has those and if we are honest, even the most well thought out and well received movie has flaws.

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs

Despite having no other major actors and having a regular Lundgren director,Jill Rips is Lundgren's most breakthrough film since Pentathlon ,after a decade spent starring in otherwise cheap,cliched fodder.The mystery/thriller element is immenently stronger than the action,which there really is virtually none of.Out the lot of them ,Dolph has always seemed the one most desperate to act rather than exploit his martial arts abilities than the likes of Van Damme,Seagal and Norris.The intricately wound plot is an inspired blend of Basic Instinct and the more recent Nicholas Cage thriller 8MM,in it's themes of S&M bondage and perverted deprivation.This is well worth seeing.Dolph doesn't look like he'll ever escape DTV movies ,and make another major film like Universal Soldier again,but all the same,and speaking of Van Damme,this is pretty much to Dolph's late career what Legionnaire was to the boasty Belgian.****

Even though I am a Dolph Lundgren fan, I put off watching "Jill The Ripper" for a long time, namely because it was a Phoenician Entertainment production - they have made many cheap and shoddy movies. So I was surprised by the quality of this effort of theirs when I sat down to watch it. Although it is a low budget production, the movie looks fairly slick and professionally made. The snow-covered Toronto locations help to give this movie an appropriately dark and moody feel to it. Lundgren gives a pretty good performance, apparently not afraid to play a protagonist who does several unlikable things during the course of the movie. So there is some good stuff here. However, there are also a few disappointing aspects to the movie. Although running only 94 minutes, it feels a lot longer. The mystery aspect of the movie is somewhat confusing. In fact, there are several parts of the movie where it seems that footage is missing. And why the heck is the movie set in 1977? It could have easily been set in the present day with absolutely no changes to the script. Despite these and other flaws, the movie is still interesting, and will appeal to Lundgren fans who want to see him in a different genre and different kind of character for a change.

Jill the Ripper is Dolph Lundgren's best performance and is unlike any of his other movies. The movie is set in the 1970's and Dolph plays an ex-cop and boxer (Matt Sorenson) whose brother is killed during some kinky sex act. Matt delves into the world of S&M trying to find his brother's killer. This movie was filmed very well. You should see it for the setting and lighting if not for the actual story. Also, the DVD version contains a very interesting director's commentary from the film's director, Anthony Hickox. All of the actors turned in pretty good performances. There are some problems with the movie, the editing is not very well done and it leaves you wondering what is motivating the characters' behaviour, and several of the characters go by 2 or 3 different names which is confusing. Also, you know who the killer is pretty much from the beginning. But overall this is good movie. Some people might say its boring, I say its taking its time; Dolph's character is actually trying to develop. If you want an action Dolph flick where he kills everyone and flexes his muscles, DON'T watch this movie, watch Red Scorpion or Universal Soldier instead. If you want a semi-suspenseful horror flick (and to see Dolph tied up and hanging upside down almost naked during a bizarre sex act) watch this movie. My suggestion is to watch it at least twice. I actually hated it the first time I saw it. I don't know what made me watch it again, but the second time is the charm. Perhaps I was paying more attention the second time.

I must say that I really liked the film, and I'm--by a degree--a big fan of Dolph...(though I must say Pentathalon wasn't one of my faves, but then again I was looking for an action flick and got that instead--With the exception of a few of his films, his acting has always been wooden...but with The Last Warrior, Hidden Assassin, and this one, Jill the Ripper, he is beginning to emote, and not just spout off lines. I was really impressed with the movie, but why not give us more evidence that the movie is supposed to take place in '77. Other than the vehicles and the outfits, you can't even tell. Now I need to go rent Detention. Wonder how his new movie that he's shooting in Romania will turn out. Way to go Dolph!!!!!!!!!!!!!