NINETOES VS. LIZZIE

Ninetoes has always been fascinated by the story of Lizzie Borden. Then he found the movie Lizzie on Peacock. Is he still fascinated?

A psychological thriller based on the infamous 1892 murders of Lizzie Andrew Borden’s family.

Directed by Craig William MacNeill

Written by Bryce Kass

Starring Chloe Sevigny, Kristen Stewart, Jamie Sheridan

Run Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Hey there, movie lovers! It is your old pal, Ninetoes, coming to you from Ninetoes HQ. Today I am taking a look at Craig William MacNeill’s Lizzie. I have popcorn in my system, and my thinking cap on, so let’s get to it!

“Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother forty whacks, when she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one.”

I remember going around reciting this rhyme when I was a kid. In my neighborhood, we all did. Sure, we were too young to realize what we were really saying, but adults did not stop us, so, win-win right? Needless to say, I have always been fascinated by the story. Well, I was scrolling through PEACOCK and came across this movie and decided to give it a watch.

On August 4, 1892, Lizzie Borden found her father and stepmother dead in a horrific manner. This is how the movie opens. Then it goes back six months to when an Irish Immigrant, Bridget O’Sullivan (Stewart), comes to work for the Borden household. Here, we meet the headstrong Lizzie(Sevigny), her sister Emma (Kim Dickens), the father Andrew (Sheridan), and the stepmother Abby (Fiona Shaw). Oh, the things we learn about this family…

This movie is a slow burn to the main event. We see Lizzie at odds with her father, a greedy uncle trying to cut the girls out of their inheritance, the father sexually abusing the new maid (non-graphic, but you get the idea), a budding friendship between Lizzie and Bridget that leads to romance, and then the murder, which is graphic in nudity. Yes, Lizzie has no clothes on when she kills her stepmother, and Bridget is naked when she tries to kill the father, but Lizzie has to intercede due to cowardice.

As slow as the movie moves, I could not look away. This is prime storytelling at its finest! The pacing is consistent, and I found myself totally wrapped up in everything that was going on. It is not that it was overly graphic; it was more being taken by the hand for a tale that is well known and being given a peek behind the curtain. Was this a faithful telling of the story? Well, as we all know, Hollywood is going to Hollywood. However, it did get the nuts and bolts of the murder.

The acting was award-worthy. Seriously, across the board, everyone excelled in their roles. Chloe Sevigny literally filled the screen in every scene she was in, as did Kristen Stewart and Jamie Sheridan. The interactions between these three alone are worth the watch; when you add everyone else, you get a Masterclass in acting and pacing.

This was an entertaining look at what led up to the murders of Lizzie Borden’s parents. I will say, do not take everything in this movie as fact. Do your due diligence if you want to learn more.

This movie is perfect for fans of true crime, great acting, and great storytelling.

I give this one 5 popcorn buckets out of 5!

Until the next time, I bid you happy viewing!

Darren “Ninetoes” Perdue is a book and media reviewer. When he is not reading, he is watching true crime shows, cooking for his family, or working on a plan for universal domination. If you see him on his porch, say hi. He does not bite…much.

PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing, nor do the views or opinions of Crystal Lake necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or its staff. Thank you for understanding.