Lifetime Original Movie 'Lizzie Borden Took an Ax' to Premiere January 25
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SYNOPSIS:
Lizzie Allen (Amanda Baker) suffers from amnesia set on by a traumatic event
during her formative years. Working with psychiatrist Dr. Fredricks (Corbin Bernsen), she struggles to uncover the mysteries of her youth and memories of her parents who dies when she was very young. When she returns to her childhood home and decides to stop taking her medication, she begins to have nightmares of historic events that distances her from her boy friend, Jason (Leif Holt). But not all of these events are her own. She begins to see things that happened to the Borden family (Gary Busey and Danielle Kennedy) who occupied the same home in the late 1800′s. Soon the lines between past and present are blurred when the ghost of Lizzie Borden (Cindy Baer) returns seeking revenge.
during her formative years. Working with psychiatrist Dr. Fredricks (Corbin Bernsen), she struggles to uncover the mysteries of her youth and memories of her parents who dies when she was very young. When she returns to her childhood home and decides to stop taking her medication, she begins to have nightmares of historic events that distances her from her boy friend, Jason (Leif Holt). But not all of these events are her own. She begins to see things that happened to the Borden family (Gary Busey and Danielle Kennedy) who occupied the same home in the late 1800′s. Soon the lines between past and present are blurred when the ghost of Lizzie Borden (Cindy Baer) returns seeking revenge.
REVIEW:
Director David Dunn Jr tackles the script for Lizzie from writer/actor Leif Holt with a sure eye and a serious tone but struggles to create a focused narrative and the film suffers for it. The film wants to be so much more than it is; it takes itself pretty seriously even when the scenes, as conceived and executed, are preposterous. The acting throughout is sub-par, with the highest profile cast members, Corbin Bernsen and Gary Busy, phoning it in with great disappointment. The special effects are mediocre at best but somehow manage to provide a few belly laughs despite themselves. The idea of the ghost of Lizzie Borden enacting her axe-wielding revenge has waves of potential but the version that appears in Lizzie is little more than a Samara/Sadako wannabe. Lizzie makes films from The Asylum look like Hitchcockian masterpieces.
Amanda Baker makes for an attractive and engaging lead but she has trouble providing the role with anything beyond a blank look and a swirling tornado of confusion. For many scenes that seems to be exactly what the character of Lizzie Allen needs which makes some of her odd decisions a little more plausible. However at other times her delivery is so bizarre it’s gut-busting funny. In one scene, she is being terrorized by someone knocking at the door to which she screams “Who is it? Who is it…” with a demented high pitch squeal. Brilliantly bizarre. Still she manages to provide Lizzie Allen with enough emotion and conflict that she keeps the audience’s attention from drifting too far away.
Lizzie contains a number of C, D and Z level, easily recognizable, celebrity actors in supporting roles. Most come across as standard low budget stunt casting. Corbin Bernsen has the largest role of Lizzie Allen’s psychiatrist, Dr. Fredricks. He gives his role a hyper realized intensity that gives the impression the character means more to the story than he actually does. Comedian Gerry Bednob has an extended cameo as a cable repairman the shows up to startle Lizzie Allen and subsequently subject her to rapid fire godawful unfunny attempts as indecent proposals. Gary Busy appears as Andrew Borden, Lizzie Borden’s doomed father destined for the business end of Lizzie Borden’s axe. He gloriously overacts with his signature frantic, manic behavior and owns every scene he is in giving the film a spark of life. Famous actor sibling Don Swayze appears briefly as Daniel Allen, Lizzie Allen’s father and is covered in full facial wound makeup for most of his screen time.
repairman the shows up to startle Lizzie Allen and subsequently subject her to rapid fire godawful unfunny attempts as indecent proposals. Gary Busy appears as Andrew Borden, Lizzie Borden’s doomed father destined for the business end of Lizzie Borden’s axe. He gloriously overacts with his signature frantic, manic behavior and owns every scene he is in giving the film a spark of life. Famous actor sibling Don Swayze appears briefly as Daniel Allen, Lizzie Allen’s father and is covered in full facial wound makeup for most of his screen time.
The effects in Lizzie are awful with typical low budget CGI hijinks. The ghostly makeup effects are adequate but unoriginal. The ghostly, possessed supporting characters shake their heads with poorly rendered ripoff of effects made popular by Jacob’s Ladder. Lizzie Borden herself, who deserves to be a horrifying imposing force, is reduced to being little more than a pissed off ghost from The Ghost Whisperer with heavy eye makeup. The film’s best effect is an outrageously silly and hilarious 40 whacks to Gary Busey’s head. Shot from behind, Lizzie Borden pummels the head relentlessly as it bounces around after every strike. This scene alone may be Lizzie’s most redeeming and rewarding value.
To the film’s credit, Lizzie does try to wrap up the story in a non-stereotypical manner. But it is a hollow effort by the time it occurs and is rendered anti-climatic by the subsequent scenes. Lizzie is an example of cinematic mediocrity. Regardless of the efforts of the talent in and behind the film, the handling of many of the low budget constraints come across as lazy instead of inventive. The film does contain a child actor playing the role of a young Lizzie Allen (Caitlin Carmichael) whose scream and horrified expression is priceless proving the film its most authentic bloodcurdling moment. Flawed and uneven, Lizzie is a difficult film to recommend. It has a terrific premise and a worthy conclusion but getting there is a boring, uneven film.
History
History
Shortly before noon on August 4, 1892, the body of Andrew Borden, a prosperous businessman, was found in the parlor of his Fall River, Massachusetts, home. As neighbors, police and doctors arrived at the scene, the body of Abby Borden, his wife, was discovered in an upstairs bedroom. A week later, Andrew’s younger daughter, Lizzie, was arrested for the double murder. In an era when women were considered the “weaker” sex and female murderers were nearly unheard of, the trial—and subsequent acquittal—of Lizzie Borden made her a media sensation. Officially, the case remains unsolved, but Lizzie Borden may very well have taken an ax and ended her parents’ lives on that sweltering summer day. Now, 120 years later, explore nine fascinating facts about the long-dead suspect.
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1. Many people might have wanted to see Andrew Borden dead.
The gruesome murders shocked the community, but many in Fall River were perhaps not entirely surprised that Andrew Borden had met an untimely end. With a net worth of almost $10 million in today’s money, Borden was one of the wealthiest—and most unpopular—men in town. Frugal to a fault, he was a self-made man who had become the head of one of the town’s largest banks and a substantial property owner. The dour businessman had also made many enemies on his rise to the top, and rumors swirled that Andrew and Abby had perhaps been killed as revenge for Andrew’s shady business dealings.
The gruesome murders shocked the community, but many in Fall River were perhaps not entirely surprised that Andrew Borden had met an untimely end. With a net worth of almost $10 million in today’s money
, Borden was one of the wealthiest—and most unpopular—men in town. Frugal to a fault, he was a self-made man who had become the head of one of the town’s largest banks and a substantial property owner. The dour businessman had also made many enemies on his rise to the top, and rumors swirled that Andrew and Abby had perhaps been killed as revenge for Andrew’s shady business dealings.
Lizzie Borden circa 1889.
2. The case revealed some skeletons in the Borden family closet.
The initial investigation focused outside of the immediate family and included local businessmen, neighbors and even the family maid, an Irish immigrant named Bridget Sullivan. Police soon realized that Andrew’s daughter, Lizzie, had as much to gain as anyone by the death of her father. Andrew’s tightfistedness extended to his own family—despite his wealth, the Borden home lacked even the most basic of conveniences, including indoorplumbing . Andrew’s remarriage to Abby Gray after the death of his first wife had soured his relationship with Lizzie and her older sister, Emma. The women, already in their 30s and considered spinsters by society, grew increasingly frustrated and resentful, with Lizzie in particular often exhibiting signs of mental instability. Lizzie’s actions in the days after the murders also raised eyebrows: She gave contradictory answers to questions and burned a dress that she claimed had been stained while doing housework, which police considered the destruction of evidence. On August 11, Lizzie was arrested for the murders.
The initial investigation focused outside of the immediate family and included local businessmen, neighbors and even the family maid, an Irish immigrant named Bridget Sullivan. Police soon realized that Andrew’s daughter, Lizzie, had as much to gain as anyone by the death of her father. Andrew’s tightfistedness extended to his own family—despite his wealth, the Borden home lacked even the most basic of conveniences, including indoor
3. The lack of forensic evidence played a key role in the case.
Despite their belief in Lizzie’s guilt, investigators faced an uphill battle in convicting her. There was no physical evidence linking her to the murders. A hatchet had been discovered in the basement of the Borden home, but its blade was clean and the handle had been broken off—by Lizzie, according to police. The police’s reluctance to use any sort of forensic testing also hampered the investigation. Fingerprint testing was then in its infancy and was never conducted as part of their inquiry. They did, however, establish that Lizzie had unsuccessfully attempted topurchase prussic acid, a highly poisonous liquid, in the days before the murders. Though investigators regarded this as evidence of an earlier failed attempt to kill her parents, they were unable to present it at trial.
Despite their belief in Lizzie’s guilt, investigators faced an uphill battle in convicting her. There was no physical evidence linking her to the murders. A hatchet had been discovered in the basement of the Borden home, but its blade was clean and the handle had been broken off—by Lizzie, according to police. The police’s reluctance to use any sort of forensic testing also hampered the investigation. Fingerprint testing was then in its infancy and was never conducted as part of their inquiry. They did, however, establish that Lizzie had unsuccessfully attempted to
Two journals kept by Lizzie Borden’s lawyer surfaced in March. (Bill Greene/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
4. Andrew and Abby Borden made an appearance at the trial—sort of.
The gruesome nature of the crimes, combined with the wealth of the Borden family, proved irresistible to newspaper publishers. Miles of ink were spilled as papers around the world printed hundreds of stories describing the deaths in lurid detail, speculating on possible motives and even alternative perpetrators. By the time the trial began in June 1893, Lizzie Borden had become a media sensation, and the proceedings themselves took on a circus-like air. The prosecution, faced with a lack of forensic evidence tying Lizzie to the murders, surmised that she had perhaps committed the crime while naked to avoid leaving behind physical clues. The presence of the hatchet-riddled skulls of Andrew and Abby Borden shocked those in the courtroom, leading to a dramatic—and perhaps well-timed—swoon by Lizzie. In what turned out to be a key moment, Lizzie’s defense team successfully pushed to have her contradictory testimony at the original inquest ruled inadmissible. Lizzie herself never took the stand, and the jury of 12 men deliberated for just 90 minutes before returning a verdict of not guilty.
The gruesome nature of the crimes, combined with the wealth of the Borden family, proved irresistible to newspaper publishers. Miles of ink were spilled as papers around the world printed hundreds of stories describing the deaths in lurid detail, speculating on possible motives and even alternative perpetrators. By the time the trial began in June 1893, Lizzie Borden had become a media sensation, and the proceedings themselves took on a circus-like air. The prosecution, faced with a lack of forensic evidence tying Lizzie to the murders, surmised that she had perhaps committed the crime while naked to avoid leaving behind physical clues. The presence of the hatchet-riddled skulls of Andrew and Abby Borden shocked those in the courtroom, leading to a dramatic—and perhaps well-timed—swoon by Lizzie. In what turned out to be a key moment, Lizzie’s defense team successfully pushed to have her contradictory testimony at the original inquest ruled inadmissible. Lizzie herself never took the stand, and the jury of 12 men deliberated for just 90 minutes before returning a verdict of not guilty.
5. The famous rope jumping rhyme got it wrong.
Children who learn the chant may believe that it took 40 blows to kill Abby Borden, and another 41 to kill Andrew. Well, that’s not quite true. The coroner did confirm that Abby was killed first, but by 19 blows—not the 40 popularized in the rhyme. Andrew Borden received even fewer wounds, but the 10 or 11 blows that finished him off were quite gruesome, focused mainly on the head and completely destroying much of his face. So it turns out the nursery rhyme overstates by half the total “whacks” it took to complete the job. In another inaccuracy, no “ax” was ever found. It seems more likely that the hatchet presented by the prosecution at trial was the true murder weapon, but “hatchet” and “whacks” simply don’t rhyme.
Children who learn the chant may believe that it took 40 blows to kill Abby Borden, and another 41 to kill Andrew. Well, that’s not quite true. The coroner did confirm that Abby was killed first, but by 19 blows—not the 40 popularized in the rhyme. Andrew Borden received even fewer wounds, but the 10 or 11 blows that finished him off were quite gruesome, focused mainly on the head and completely destroying much of his face. So it turns out the nursery rhyme overstates by half the total “whacks” it took to complete
the job. In another inaccuracy, no “ax” was ever found. It seems more likely that the hatchet presented by the prosecution at trial was the true murder weapon, but “hatchet” and “whacks” simply don’t rhyme.
A portrait of Lizzie Borden hangs on the wall of the former Borden home in Fall River. (Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
6. Lizzie Borden struggled in her later life.
Despite her newfound notoriety—and her neighbors’ whispers about her likely guilt—Lizzie remained in Fall River for the rest of her life. She and Emma inherited their father’s estate, gaining the financial freedom they had long craved. Lizzie bought a large house in one of the city’s most fashionable neighborhoods and spent her time traveling to Boston and New York to indulge in her love of theater. Just five years after the murder, Lizzie was briefly in the headlines again, when she was accused of—but not tried for—shoplifting. In 1905 the sisters became estranged over Lizzie’s relationship with actress Nance O’Neill, which Emma allegedly disapproved of. They rarely spoke in their later years but died within days of each other in June 1927. Both sisters were buried besides their murdered parents in the family plot in Oak Grove Cemetery.
Despite her newfound notoriety—and her neighbors’ whispers about her likely guilt—Lizzie remained in Fall River for the rest of her life. She and Emma inherited their father’s estate, gaining the financial freedom they had long craved. Lizzie bought a large house in one of the city’s most fashionable neighborhoods and spent her time traveling to Boston and New York to indulge in her love of theater. Just five years after the murder, Lizzie was briefly in the headlines again, when she was accused of—but not tried for—shoplifting. In 1905 the sisters became estranged over Lizzie’s relationship with actress Nance O’Neill, which Emma allegedly disapproved of. They rarely spoke in their later years but died within days of each other in June 1927. Both sisters were buried besides their murdered parents in the family plot in Oak Grove Cemetery.
7. Lizzie Borden made an appearance on “The Simpsons.”
A media sensation in its own day, the Borden murders continue to fascinate the public more than a century after they occurred. Lizzie and her family have been the focus of dozens of books, plays and films. In 1975 actress Elizabeth Montgomery, star of television’s “Bewitched” and also a distant relative of Lizzie, portrayed her in a television movie. Famed choreographer Agnes de Mille created a ballet about the trial, a new opera has been in the works and Lizzie even made a cameo on “The Simpsons,” in which she—along with other notorious figures such as Benedict Arnold, Richard Nixon and John Wilkes Booth—served in the jury during a trial over Homer Simpson’s soul.
A media sensation in its own day, the Borden murders continue to fascinate the public more than a century after they occurred. Lizzie and her family have been the focus of dozens of books, plays and films. In 1975 actress Elizabeth Montgomery, star of television’s “Bewitched” and also a distant relative of Lizzie, portrayed her in a television movie. Famed choreographer Agnes de Mille created a ballet about the trial, a new opera has been in the works and Lizzie even made a cameo on “The Simpsons,” in which she—along with other notorious figures such as Benedict Arnold, Richard Nixon and John Wilkes Booth—served in the jury during a trial over Homer Simpson’s soul.
8. New information may still come to light.
In March 2012, the Borden case was back in the headlines when researchers at the Fall River Historical Society announced the discovery of the handwritten journals of Andrew Jennings, Lizzie’s defense attorney. The journals, which contain newspaper clippings as well as interview notes Jennings made during his pre-trial preparation, may yield new insight into the crimes. The extremely fragile material is currently being preserved by the museum before its contents are made available to the public.
In March 2012, the Borden case was back in the headlines when researchers at the Fall River Historical Society announced the discovery of the handwritten journals of Andrew Jennings, Lizzie’s defense attorney. The journals, which contain newspaper clippings as well as interview notes Jennings made during his pre-trial preparation, may yield new insight into the crimes. The extremely fragile material is currently being preserved by the museum before its contents are made available to the public.
9. You can stay at the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast.
More than a century after the murders, Fall River, Massachusetts, continues to be a hot spot for those fascinated by the case. For the most daring aficionados, a night at the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast provides the ultimate Borden experience. Guests can tour the property at 92 Second Street, watch an annual dramatization of the events, stay overnight in the bedrooms originally occupied by Lizzie, Emma and their parents, and even enjoy the same breakfast the family shared on the morning of August 4, 1892.
More than a century after the murders, Fall River, Massachusetts, continues to be a hot spot for those fascinated by the case. For the most daring aficionados, a night at the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast provides the ultimate Borden experience. Guests can tour the property at 92 Second Street, watch an annual dramatization of the events, stay overnight in the bedrooms originally occupied by Lizzie, Emma and their parents, and even enjoy the same breakfast the family shared on the morning of August 4, 1892.
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