Lizzie Borden Took an Ax

Lizzie Borden Took an Ax

Official poster
Genre Docudrama
Slasher
Mystery
Biopic
Written by Stephen Kay
Directed by Nick Gomez
Starring Christina Ricci
Clea DuVall
Billy Campbell
Theme music composer Tree Adams
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
Production
Producer(s) Michael Mahoney
Editor(s) Henk Van Eeghan
Cinematography Steve Cosens
Running time 87 minutes
Production company(s) Sony Pictures Television
Release
Original network Lifetime
Original release January 25, 2014 (2014-01-25)
Chronology
Followed by The Lizzie Borden Chronicles
External links
Website

Lizzie Borden Took an Ax is a 2014 American television biopic about Lizzie Borden, a young American woman tried and acquitted of the murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1892. It premiered on Lifetime on January 25, 2014.[1] Lead actress Christina Ricci has described the series and its follow-up as being "self-aware, campy, and tongue-in-cheek".

Plot

In August 1892, Fall River, Massachusetts Sunday school teacher Lizzie Borden comes across the grisly murder scene of her father Andrew, who has been brutally killed with a hatchet. Local law enforcement arrives, also discovering the body of Abby Borden, the stepmother of Lizzie and her older sister Emma. As the case progresses, the evidence seems to point to Lizzie as the prime suspect. Her lawyer, Andrew Jennings, maintains that a woman could not commit such a cruel and gruesome crime. Still, Lizzie is put on trial for the murders, and the case makes headlines in newspapers throughout the country, which call it the most infamous of the century.

Eventually, the jury finds Lizzie innocent of all charges. During a final confrontation between Lizzie and Emma, Lizzie asks her sister if she wants to know the truth. Lizzie then whispers into Emma's ear as a series of flashbacks show Lizzie murdering their stepmother and father. A visibly upset Emma leaves the room, and eventually, moves out of their home. Lizzie walks outside and hears three children jump roping to the famous nursery rhyme: "Lizzie Borden took an axe/She gave her mother forty whacks/When she saw what she had done/She gave her father forty-one."

Cast

Tagline

The teaser trailer featured the time period's popular children's skipping-rope rhyme:

Lizzie Borden took an axe
She gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done
She gave her father forty-one.
Lizzie Borden got away
For her crime she did not pay.

Ratings

In its original January 25, 2014 premiere on the Lifetime network, the film was watched by 4.4 million viewers, making it the night's number-one telecast among all key demographics.[2]

Reception

Lizzie Borden Took an Ax received mixed reviews; as of 6 May 2015, based on 14 reviews, the film holds a 43% rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes.[3]

Series

In October 2014, Lifetime announced plans for an additional limited series based on the film. Originally named Lizzie Borden: The Fall River Chronicles, the series will take place after Lizzie's trial. Christina Ricci and Clea DuVall will reprise their roles as the Borden sisters. Cole Hauser will portray Pinkerton detective Charlie Siringo, who investigates other strange occurrences, including murders, centered around the Bordens.[4] Jessy Schram will play Lizzie's actress/dancer friend, Nancy O'Keefe, and John Heard will play Lizzie's father's business partner, William Almy.[5] The limited series will be written by Greg Small, Rich Blaney, Barbara Nance, Jason Grote, and David Simkins. Stephen Kay will direct the first two of the episodes, which are slated to begin airing April 2015.[4]

A teaser trailer aired on December 8, 2014 during the second part of The Red Tent miniseries that was called The Lizzie Borden Chronicles, along with "The series coming in 2015." Despite The Hollywood Reporter stating the series would be a six-hour limited miniseries,[6] on February 5, 2015, it was increased to eight hours.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hunter, Craig. "Christina Ricci stars in Lifetime movie 'Lizzie Borden Took an Ax'". The Hollywood News. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  2. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (January 27, 2014). "'Lizzie Borden Took an Ax' Premiere Draws 4.4 Million Total Viewers" (Press release). TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Lizzie Borden Took an Ax". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Lifetime Greenlights Limited Series "Lizzie Borden: The Fall River Chronicles"" (Press release). Lifetime. October 22, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2016 – via The Futon Critic.
  5. 1 2 Elavsky, Cindy (February 5, 2015). "Ricci takes an ax to her latest role". Naples Florida Weekly. Celebrity Extra (column). Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  6. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (October 22, 2014). "Lifetime Returns to 'Lizzie Borden' With Six-Hour Limited Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 6, 2015.

External links

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