Lizzie Borden Took an Axe

LIZZIE BORDEN TOOK AN AXE: 2014: +-: HRR:  One of the things that drew me to this movie was the fact that Christina Ricci is in it because I have been somewhat of a fan of hers.  Starring in Monster, Buffalo 78, and Black Snake Moan, she is capable of putting on great performances.  

Initially an Indie film director's sweetheart, she began becoming more mainstream after Monster, which also starred Charlize Theron and won awards.


Ricci and Theron in Monster.


Lizzie Borden Took an Axe has an Indie movie feel because of the cast.  Starring Clea DuVall, from The Faculty, and Billy Cambell, the rest of the cast was composed of mainly unknown actors. The way in which some of the camera shots and scene transitions take place seemed a bit amateurish but weren't egregious. I'll put portions of the music in that category because it was schizophrenic and inconsistent at times.

 
Christina and Clea worked well together.


Clea in The Faculty

Since this movie is based on a true story, it gives it some more mystique.  The mood was supposed to be eerie and overall it was, but at times, especially when Lizzie was arrested, the music changed to some sort of southern rock hybrid that totally jolted me out of the mood and was utterly ridiculous.  In all the other parts of the movie, the music was as it was supposed to be for a horror movie, dark and moody.  Then the shift was almost laughable.  

 
When Lizzie was arrested or at court, the music was horrible.

I have no idea what Tree Adams was thinking with this, maybe he was appeasing a friend or something by letting his music be in the movie but it really detracted from the movie and actually makes me deduct major points in the rating.

The plot evolves in a novel way and keeps you in the dark although historically the ending is known.  The point is that it leads you along a dark path and only opens certain doors at certain times to let the viewer in closer and closer to the truth.  Did Lizzie do it or not?  


Plenty of side glances and odd looks makes Lizzie seem guilty.

The trial was pretty entertaining and the ending didn't involve a twist, but the director, Nick Gomez, makes it somewhat original.

 
An Axe to the face is not the best way to die.


Pssst, can you keep a secret?

The costumes, sets, and other little touches certainly placed you in the time frame of the movie so that was a plus.  The movie didn't lag because it kept moving and had different phases.  


Costumes, sets, and other touches were effective in setting the time period.

Ricci looked good in the movie but I have noticed that she lost a lot of weight in the last movies.  Personally, I liked her better when she wasn't so thin, but she still has the ability to star in odd, somewhat disturbing movies because of her unique look.  A friend of mine commented that she has a large forehead, but I think she is attractive.  Her mother was actually a model.


Ricci has an unique look.


Ricci a few years earlier before all the weight loss.  I preferred this look, especially for horror movies.

Back to the movie, I would recommend it but I do have some reservations.  The music as I indicated was hit or miss.  The overall execution had some high points, but a few moments where it was a little cliche.  It's a decent movie and I watched it because Ricci was in it, but if it hadn't been for her, I probably would have passed:  76%---note after further review, I raised the raiting from 71%


"Watch this movie because I'm in it dammit", Ricci


"Good thing you raised the rating on this movie!"--Lizzie Borden