The Ending Of From Hell Explained

In the last scene of "From Hell," we see a vision of Mary Kelly standing outside a humble cottage, surrounded by green hills, sheep, and a pathway to the sea. She calls for Alice before a child crests the hill, calling, "I'm coming mother." This vision melts away as Abberline's eyes go vacant; he's lying on a couch in a squalid opium den. Sergeant Godley enters the opium den to retrieve Inspector Abberline but finds Abberline has died.

When Godley checks for a pulse on Abberline's wrist, he discovers two coins for the ferryman in Abberline's hand, and Godley understands this was an intentional overdose. With tears in his eyes, Godley places the coins over Abberline's eyes — as Abberline did for the victims in Whitechapel — before saying, "Goodnight, sweet prince." The meaning behind Abberline's place of death is huge. As Empire put it: "Opening and closing with its copper in an opium den allows for a reading of the film as a delirious nightmare distantly based on historical fact."

That's the ending of "From Hell" in a nutshell. However, it's worth mentioning that, in reality, Abberline didn't take his own life after the Ripper case. "The very next year he was involved in the notorious Cleveland Street Scandal investigation," reports Casebook. "He retired in 1892 and lived until 1929. In later years he did some private detective work with the American Pinkerton Agency." That might have made for a good sequel, but, from a filmmaking point of view, things would only really be wrapped up when Mary Kelly's secret died with Abberline.

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ at​ 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.