Entertainment
Unsettling, R-Rated 80s Mystery Thriller Is The Ultimate Violent Copycat Crime
By Robert Scucci
| Published
The best way to deliver a truly captivating murder mystery is to constantly misdirect the audience, sending them down a breadcrumb trail of clues that reveal a series of half-truths instead of laying all of its cards on the table at once. 1988’s Jack’s Back, a neo-noir thriller about a lunatic on the loose recreating Jack the Ripper’s crimes a hundred years later in Los Angeles, falls into this exact storytelling rhythm. Its insane premise is allowed to wander through smaller details while slowly gut-punching you with reveals that reframe everything you thought you understood along the way.
Playing twin brothers in a dual role, James Spader is straight-faced and deadly serious about solving the mystery in Jack’s Back because of the deeply personal stakes involved. He also does not have the law on his side, since he is quickly considered a suspect himself. His goal is a simple one. Find out who killed his brother, clear his own name, and get the copycat killer locked up before another victim is claimed. Given how precisely the killer is recreating the crime scenes, it becomes clear early on that time is not on anyone’s side.
A Copycat Killer With A Horrifying M.O.
Jack’s Back wastes no time setting up its primary conflict through news bumpers witnessed by John Westford (James Spader), a young doctor who spends his days helping the less fortunate at his clinic. It is made clear that the killer on the loose is recreating Jack the Ripper’s murders in meticulous detail, meaning the crimes will only continue to escalate in brutality.
After spotting his colleague Jack Pendler (Rex Ryon) at the newest crime scene, a chase ensues that ends with Pendler overpowering John, hanging him, and staging the death to look like a suicide. In Jack’s mind, murdering John throws off the authorities by allowing him to frame John for the killings, suggesting that he was struck with guilt and ended his own life.
Unfortunately for Jack, John has an identical twin brother named Rick (James Spader), who witnesses his death through a disturbing vision. Believing he can help the investigation, Rick contacts the authorities with his claims, but this only makes matters worse. The police now have reason to suspect him of killing not only his twin brother, but also the growing list of victims attributed to the copycat killer, largely because Rick offers details that were never made public.
Determined to clear his name, Rick befriends John’s colleague and close friend Christine (Cynthia Gibb) and begins his own investigation while the authorities steadily close in. Maintaining his innocence, Rick also works with criminal psychologist Dr. Carlos Battera (Robert Picardo) to better understand his visions, hoping the truth is buried somewhere in his subconscious. Time is working against him, though, as the killer remains at large and the pattern suggests another strike is inevitable.
A Mystery With Layers
Jack’s Back takes familiar murder mystery tropes and throws them into a blender in the best possible way. Mixed motives, unreliable information, and hypnotic visions gradually bring Rick closer to uncovering the truth behind his brother’s death, while also pointing toward a much larger puzzle. Solving John’s murder only raises more questions, since Jack Pendler appears in Rick’s vision, committing the crime. The problem is that this specific murder feels sloppy and impulsive, which does not align with the copycat killer’s otherwise meticulous M.O.
The real mystery becomes whether everything is connected, or if a series of coincidences is sending Rick down a dangerous path filled with multiple potential suspects instead of a single clear answer. With so many moving parts and conflicting motivations, Jack’s Back constantly forces you to reevaluate your assumptions as the story unfolds. Trying to piece it all together is half the fun, especially if you enjoy mysteries that refuse to spoon-feed easy answers.
As of this writing, you can stream Jack’s Back for free on Tubi.
Entertainment
Get some new wrist candy with the CMF Watch Pro 2 at its lowest price ever
SAVE $39.01: As of April 22, get the CMF By Nothing Watch 2 Pro for $39.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $79. That’s a discount of 49% and the lowest price we’ve seen.
$39.99
at Amazon
$79
Save $39.01
There are tons of smartwatches on the market if you’re in need of one. But if you’re willing to look beyond the Apple Watches or Samsung devices out there, you’ll find an awesome alternative from the Nothing brand that’ll save you some serious cash. Not only is it more affordable than the competition, but it’s got everything you could want and then some. In fact, one of the models is on sale right now.
As of April 22, get the CMF By Nothing Watch 2 Pro for $39.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $79. That’s $39.01 off and a discount of 49%. It’s also the lowest price we’ve seen.
This affordable smartwatch not only comes in an attractive form factor, but it has just about everything you could ask for. It has your average comms tools like Bluetooth calling and gesture control, a built-in mic and speaker, contacts, message reminders, and music control. But from there, it offers a wide range of sensors and data to help you take control of your health.
It offers a portable blood oxygen saturation monitor, a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, and so much more. All of this data, including workout information, steps, and much more, can be synced across all your favorite fitness apps, including Apple Health and Google Health Connect. There are 120 sports modes to choose from, GPS positioning, and even a 3D warm-up exercise guide to help get you on your feet each day.
Mashable Deals
With interchangeable watch straps and an attractive face, this extremely reasonable smartwatch is definitely one to rival Apple and Samsung. You’ll want to grab yours while it’s still down to the lowest price we’ve seen.
Entertainment
Get Ankers 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock for $60 less at Amazon
SAVE 15%: As of April 22, you can get the Anker Prime 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock for $339.99, down from $399.99, at Amazon. That’s a 15% discount or $60 savings.
$339.99
at Amazon
$399.99
Save $60
Working off a laptop is great until you realize you only have two ports and need to plug something in. If you’re hooked up to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse, you’re pretty much out of luck on the rest. Not only that, but your previously uncluttered desk will most likely look like a Best Buy exploded (a rat’s nest of cords isn’t cute or helpful for anyone getting work done).
If you literally hate mess and cords as much as I do, you need a docking station to hide all that chaos and protect your aesthetic. Right now, Anker’s Prime TB5 Docking Station is on sale for $339.99 at Amazon, down from $399.99. (That’s a $60 price cut.)
Mashable Deals
Are you going to use all 14 ports at the exact same time? Probably not, but you’ll never have to dig through your bag for a specific adapter again. You just plug a single cable into your laptop, and the dock handles the rest. It features a Thunderbolt 5 upstream port, two Thunderbolt 5 downstream ports, two USB-C ports, three USB-A ports, SD and TF card readers, a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, an audio jack, and your choice of HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 2.1. It’s also fast enough to transfer a 150GB file in 25 seconds.
Entertainment
How I scored ad-free Paramount+ Premium for only 99 cents
SAVE $26: As of April 22, returning subscribers can score two months of ad-free Paramount+ Premium for only 99 cents per month with the code N8C27L. Usually $13.99 per month, that’s $26 in savings. Just note that your mileage may vary.
$0.99/month for 2 months (save $13/month) with code N8C27L
If you’re looking to save some money on your streaming lineup, my number one recommendation is to cancel your subscriptions. While it doesn’t work for every streamer, many will offer you a special discount to come back. Not to mention, you’ll be eligible for any new deals that may appear that are marketed to “new and returning customers.” Case in point: as of April 22, returning subscribers can get two months of ad-free Paramount+ Premium for just 99 cents per month.
I’ve tested this out myself, so I can vouch for it. When you navigate to Paramount+ and sign in to your existing account, you’ll be prompted to pick a plan. Select the Paramount+ Premium monthly plan for $13.99 per month. On the “Welcome back!” page, scroll down to the box that says “Have a promo code?” and enter N8C27L. Once you hit “apply” the price should drop to just 99 cents per month.
Credit: Paramount+
That’s all, folks. You can take advantage of two full months of ad-free Paramount+, Showtime, BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, CBS live TV, UFC fights, and more for less than two bucks. That’s $26 total in savings.
Mashable Deals
Paramount+ has a surprisingly hefty library. Subscribers can enjoy Paramount+ Originals like Landman and RuPaul Drag Race All Stars, Showtime series like Dexter Resurrection and Yellowjackets, CBS hits like Survivor and NCIS, and nostalgic shows from Nickelodeon and MTV. Not to mention, there’s a lineup of movies that’ll keep you fully entertained for your two-month promotional period. Just be sure to cancel again before the second month is over if you want to avoid paying full cost. You can always sign up again when another deal arises. I know I will.
Cardinals down Marlins behind Nathan Church's homer
Inter Miami visits Real Salt Lake for second test following coaching change
