H.H. Holmes America's first serial killer

DVD - 2004

The story behind America's first serial killer who terrorized Chicago during the turn-of-the-century World's Fair. Chronicles his grisly life from childhood, to the cross-country man hunt to find him, and finally to his incarceration and execution.

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DVD/364.1523/H.H.
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Subjects
Genres
Biographical films
Published
Chicago, IL : Facets Video c2004.
Language
English
Other Authors
John Borowski (-), Tony Jay
Edition
Unrated director's cut ; full screen
Item Description
Originally released as a documentary in 2003.
Special features: making of H.H. Holmes; outtakes; trailers; poster designs; the story continues; bios; commentary with filmmaker John Borowski.
Physical Description
1 videodisc (64 min.) : sound, colour with black and white sequences ; 4 3/4 in
Format
Region 1, full screen (1.33:1) presentation; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround.
Audience
MPAA rating: Not rated.
Production Credits
Directors of photography, John Borowski, Frey Hoffman ; editors, John Murray, John Borowski ; music, Douglas Romayne Stevens.
ISBN
9780975918500
Contents unavailable.
Review by Library Journal Review

America's first documented serial killer was born Herman W. Mudgett in 1861. Graduating from the University of Michigan's medical school, Mudgett grew to love working with corpses and honed his skills in chemistry and anatomy. Upon graduation, he changed his name to H.H. Holmes, moved to Chicago, and began a career in fraud, poison, and murder. Six murders are linked positively to Holmes, and he is suspected in at least 50 more. He is best known for the random murders of visitors to the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. The venue was a horror-house of his own design, featuring mazelike corridors, secret panels, and a slide ending in a fully equipped torture chamber in the basement. The film features stills, drawings, and newspaper clippings from contemporary sources, as well as reenactments. Director/writer Borowski uses dramatic lighting and camera angles combined with an eerie soundtrack to produce a documentary that is both dark and compelling. Not rated, the film keeps its focus on the story without resorting to exploitation, gore, or special effects. Special features on the DVD include a "Making of" featurette, outtakes, trailers, poster designs, biographies, and director's commentary. Highly recommended for general audiences.-Karen A. Plummer, Univ. of Akron Lib. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.