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

PG-13

Released Jan 14, 2000

1h 30m

Documentary

List

100%

Tomatometer

42 Reviews

87%

Audience Score

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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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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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

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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

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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

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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

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Film Threat

Rated: 5/5

Dec 6, 2005

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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

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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

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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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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: Fourth Floor Pictures, Independent Film Channel, Channel Four Films, Scout Productions
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