Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred… Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr.
1999 Directed by Errol Morris
Synopsis
Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. is a 1999 documentary film by Errol Morris about execution technician Fred A. Leuchter.
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This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.
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I keep thinking the story is going too get a bit crazier or out of control than it actually does, but it's still a good story of an expert who risks his entire reputation on behalf of a bad dude.
You'll hear the word "youngster" more in 90 minutes than you've probably ever heard in your life.
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In an interview with director Errol Morris, he explained that he was attracted to quirky and odd subjects, because he felt that way about himself, and he enjoyed documenting the oddballs. As a result, it's no surprise that Morris was intrigued by Fred Leuchter, execution machine expert, and Holocaust denier. Although it would extremely easy, and definitely justified, to make a documentary attacking Leuchter as a maniac or evil anti-Semite, Morris allows for Leuchter to fully explain his story and his opinions, no matter how wrong and terrible they may be.
Morris' portrayal of Leuchter at the start of the film is an extremely interesting choice. Unless you haven't read anything about the film, you will have known that Leuchter…
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In an interview with director Errol Morris, he explained that he was attracted to quirky and odd subjects, because he felt that way about himself, and he enjoyed documenting the oddballs. As a result, it's no surprise that Morris was intrigued by Fred Leuchter, execution machine expert, and Holocaust denier. Although it would extremely easy, and definitely justified, to make a documentary attacking Leuchter as a maniac or evil anti-Semite, Morris allows for Leuchter to fully explain his story and his opinions, no matter how wrong and terrible they may be.
Morris' portrayal of Leuchter at the start of the film is an extremely interesting choice. Unless you haven't read anything about the film, you will have known that Leuchter… -
This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.
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Ninety percent of the screen time of 'Mr Death' is devoted to the man himself, Fred A. Leuchter. The son of a prison corrections officer, Leuchter is essentially raised on the inside. As he grows up he blags his way into a job repairing and modifying execution equipment, becoming a renowned expert despite having no formal training.
This guy is from another planet!
Leuchter is strangely endearing, in a macabre, morbid way. The longer he talks the more amoral he seems. You slowly get the feeling that the his reputation and expertise builds through default, as he is picking up the jobs that everybody around him feel sit outside their ethical comfort zone.
The film takes a distinct turn when…
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Errol Morris always makes interesting and thought provoking documentaries and this one fits the mold for what he likes to do. A guy who makes execution more human later believes that the Holocaust never happened because of the samples that he recovered which later destroyed his career and his life. Is he a bad guy because he doesn't seem racist and even said that he has Jewish friends but at the same time he believes something didn't happen because it the evidence that he ran. Mind boggling.
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FILM:
Errol Morris consistently brings out the best and the worst of some of the most interesting and/or eccentric people living on this planet. Mr Death is among his best works, in that his subject is both interesting AND eccentric, and his story elicits such a wide range of emotional and intellectual responses. Morris allows us to see the many sides of Fred Leuchter... At times a genius, at times a dolt; At times a brilliant engineer, at times a mad scientist; At times sympathetic, at times revolting, and at times pitiful. Documentaries don't get much better than this.The Good: Fascinating subject that inspires a wide range of emotional and intellectual responses; excellent score; Takes you on a strange…
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3 out of 5 (B-)
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This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.
-
I keep thinking the story is going too get a bit crazier or out of control than it actually does, but it's still a good story of an expert who risks his entire reputation on behalf of a bad dude.
You'll hear the word "youngster" more in 90 minutes than you've probably ever heard in your life.
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Not as engaging as The Thin Blue Line, but another unconventionally good documentary from Errol Morris. Morris does a goob job of not choosing sides when it comes to one of the more controversial public figures of the 20th century.