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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 2000 1h 30m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 41 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.
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Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr.

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 01/04/2019
4/4
Like all of Morris' films, "Mr. Death" provides us with no comfortable place to stand. Go to Full Review Todd McCarthy Variety 07/06/2010
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... Go to Full Review Stephen Holden New York Times 01/01/2000
Think of "Mr. Death" as the best comedy-horror documentary about the Holocaust ever made. Go to Full Review Emily Drabinski Out Magazine 05/27/2022
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. Go to Full Review Pablo Villaça Cinema em Cena 01/30/2007
4/5
Morris, com sua habilidade narrativa habitual, conta a interessante mas incmoda histria de um homem destrudo pela prpria ignorncia. Go to Full Review Film Threat 12/06/2005
5/5
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05/14/2022 LOL, he is a criminal now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more @willg 03/07/2021 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. See more 04/27/2017 Awesome film debunking the HOLOHOAX! !! See more 04/23/2016 Very good documentary. Very entertaining and interesting to watch. The film has a lot to reflect on See more 04/23/2016 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. See more 03/26/2015 It analyzes capital punishment and holocaust denial, and Auschwitz in a interesting manner. See more Read all reviews
Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr.

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Cast & Crew

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Errol Morris

Director

Fred A. Leuchter Jr.

Self

Robert Jan Van Pelt

Self

David Irving

Self

Caroline Leuchter

Self

James Roth

Self

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

Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. (1999) Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. (1999) View more photos

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