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Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr.

Play trailer Poster for Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. PG-13 Released Jan 14, 2000 1h 30m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 42 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Documentary filmmaker Errol Morris investigates the case of a man who became an authority on capital punishment, but was discredited when he got involved on the wrong side of a court case. Leutcher, a meek man whose appearance belies his grim expertise, develops what he says is a more effective electric chair. Before long he's in demand from officials who want his opinions on other kinds of execution. But when called to aid the case of an accused Holocaust denier, Leutcher's problems begin.
Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr.

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Critics Consensus

Mr. Death outlines its subject's controversial life's work with the deeply fascinating and thought-provoking élan film fans have come to expect from director Errol Morris.

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Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Like all of Morris' films, "Mr. Death" provides us with no comfortable place to stand. Rated: 4/4 Jan 4, 2019 Full Review Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: A Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Todd McCarthy Variety Ultimately, Leuchter comes across not as a fundamentally bad man, just a hopelessly deluded one, a technician overly impressed with his own expertise and infallibility, a small figure blindly sucked into the vortex of consummate evil... Jul 6, 2010 Full Review Emily Drabinski Out Magazine Unfortunate didactic turns undercut what could have been Morris' best film yet, but his subject's disarming candor and misplaced vanity don't fail to fascinate. May 27, 2022 Full Review Pablo Villaça Cinema em Cena Morris, com sua habilidade narrativa habitual, conta a interessante mas incmoda histria de um homem destrudo pela prpria ignorncia. Rated: 4/5 Jan 30, 2007 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 5/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (180) audience reviews
Audience Member LOL, he is a criminal now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member Of course, this may not be a "must see" for every viewer. But I see this as essential viewing for understanding (or at least witnessing) the darker sides of humanity. What makes someone as tone-deaf as Fred Leutcher? Perhaps the answer is simply the promise of fame, but it seems like something much more nuanced than that. This is perhaps the best documentary I have ever seen. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Awesome film debunking the HOLOHOAX! !! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Very good documentary. Very entertaining and interesting to watch. The film has a lot to reflect on Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member I walked into 'Mr Death' after having seen Morris' pictures on Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Mcnamara and I was sure that this film about 'some guy' couldn't possibly beat out the stories of the big names that I've just mentioned. Well, 'Mr. Death' somehow pulls it off. "he made things that killed people" is interesting enough, especially given that he seemed to completely stumble into it. Who would have thought that one could just suddenly end up in the execution business? Further, why would someone want to stumble into this? Take pride in it even? Well, this one goes further still as Leuchter Jr. also stumbles into Holocaust denial, always seeming completely convinced in his own viewpoints and never feeling that any of his actions are questionable in any way. It's ludicrous to legitimately funny levels but at the same time, it's real, and it has real consequences and 'Mr Death' is every bit as much about the nature off true evil as it is the story of just some guy who happens to be an oddball. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member It analyzes capital punishment and holocaust denial, and Auschwitz in a interesting manner. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr.

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Movie Info

Synopsis Documentary filmmaker Errol Morris investigates the case of a man who became an authority on capital punishment, but was discredited when he got involved on the wrong side of a court case. Leutcher, a meek man whose appearance belies his grim expertise, develops what he says is a more effective electric chair. Before long he's in demand from officials who want his opinions on other kinds of execution. But when called to aid the case of an accused Holocaust denier, Leutcher's problems begin.
Director
Errol Morris
Producer
Dorothy Aufiero, David Collins, Errol Morris, Kathy Trustman, Michael Williams
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Independent Film Channel, Scout Productions, Fourth Floor Pictures, Channel Four Films
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 14, 2000, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Jul 22, 2003
Box Office (Gross USA)
$495.3K
Runtime
1h 30m
Sound Mix
Surround