Nerds That Geek Movie Review: 'Lizzie Borden Took an Ax'

​Written by Scotty

​Parents remarrying has become common place these days and even though the children’s best interest may be in mind, it can still change their outlook on life. Not being able to take the place of their actual mother or father, the children are forced to let a stranger into their life and accept them like family. Sometimes it works out famously, but most of the time there is resentment towards their step-parent and no matter what they do, they can never gain the trust of the real parent. It is all about one parent not having to be alone in this crazy world and some of the children can recognize this as they see their parents move on, while others will sit and stew upon what they did wrong and direct their outward blame on the new people that have been forced into their lives.

Lizzie Borden is known around the community as a soft spoken young woman that is living off of her father’s money. After losing her mother, Lizzie has never been able to accept her step mother into her life. Just wanting to get her father’s attention, Lizzie acts out from time to time, most recently by stealing a mirror from the dress shop to see if he still cares. But this leads to accusations that she is stealing items from around the house as well, yet she will not admit to it since her step-mother and extended family are trying to bleed her father dry.

On August 4th, Lizzie and the town of Fall River are in for the shock of their lives. Finding Abby and Andrew Borden brutally murdered with what appears to be ax wounds to the head, the town and police are looking for who anyone that could have committed this heinous act. Being questioned by police on the scene, Lizzie is not accused as of yet, but the District Attorney Hosea Knowlton has his eyes on the young woman being the culprit. Having Lizzie come down to the station for several days of questioning, Hosea is trying everything in his power to make the young woman crack and confess so that she will not have to go on trial, but when that does not work, he has to take the next step and formally charge her causing a media frenzy.

With the papers printing everything that they can find out about the case, Lizzie is placed in a mental health ward since the local jail does not have a safe place for women. With her father’s attorney, Andrew Jennings at her side, Lizzie is on trial for her life, but on a positive note, the questioning that she received from D.A. Knowlton is not admissible to the trial. After hearing news that another brutal ax murder had taken place in the state while Lizzie was behind bars, the judge and DA decide to move on since so much manpower has already been put in to build the case against her. As witnesses take the stand and some facts are proven while others are refuted, and the jury is forced to decide the future of Lizzie Borden, yet their outcome may turn out to be wrong.

This appears to be a great re telling of what happened in the Lizzie Borden house on August 4th, but you know what, we may never know what really happened. I really enjoyed the interactions between Lizzie and her sister Emma after the murders were committed. Emma might have been the only one to truly understand how messed up her little sister really was and showing her locking her doors when the sun goes down could be the all the proof that you really need. I like how the story played as it did not get hung up on any one aspect of what may have happened in the house and even the court scenes were not that boring. Did Lizzie do it? The world may never know, but the movie does give you an answer, it is simply up to you to choose to accept it.  Happy Viewing.

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