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No consensus yet.
All Critics (14) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (6) | Rotten (8)
The movie itself apparently isn't sure the murders themselves are lurid enough. So it adds a few things that didn't happen, plus some 21st-century music. Jan 27, 2014 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…
The movie itself apparently isn't sure the murders themselves are lurid enough. So it adds a few things that didn't happen, plus some 21st-century music.
David Hinckley
The movie ends on such a note as to cause the audience to wonder how long it will take before "A," of Pretty Little Liars fame, starts leaving Lizzie Borden an incriminating text or two. Jan 27, 2014 | Full Review…
The movie ends on such a note as to cause the audience to wonder how long it will take before "A," of Pretty Little Liars fame, starts leaving Lizzie Borden an incriminating text or two.
Mary McNamara
It's slow and heavy-handed, tedious almost throughout. An average episode of Oxygen's Snapped isn't this dull, and has more interesting things to say about women who kill. Jan 27, 2014 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
It's slow and heavy-handed, tedious almost throughout. An average episode of Oxygen's Snapped isn't this dull, and has more interesting things to say about women who kill.
Gail Pennington
Lizzie Borden takes an ax to many assumptions -- including the one that Lifetime movies aren't worth watching. Jan 24, 2014 | Rating: A- | Full Review…
Lizzie Borden takes an ax to many assumptions -- including the one that Lifetime movies aren't worth watching.
Diane Werts
Lizzie comes across more as a whiny, moody teen than a psychotic murderess, and Ricci is much-too-attractive to play the dowdy, crazy-eyed Lizzie familiar from those faded black-and-white photos (just sayin'). Jan 21, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…
Lizzie comes across more as a whiny, moody teen than a psychotic murderess, and Ricci is much-too-attractive to play the dowdy, crazy-eyed Lizzie familiar from those faded black-and-white photos (just sayin').
Michael Starr
Christina Ricci does a haunting turn as notorious hatchet swinger Lizzie Borden. Jan 20, 2014 | Rating: 3/4
Christina Ricci does a haunting turn as notorious hatchet swinger Lizzie Borden.
Lori Rackl
Lifetime's made-for-TV movie Lizzie Borden Took an Axe covers the events of the murder and ensuing trial, but doesn't really get any deeper into the crime than the schoolyard chant does. May 5, 2014 | Rating: 3/10 | Full Review…
Lifetime's made-for-TV movie Lizzie Borden Took an Axe covers the events of the murder and ensuing trial, but doesn't really get any deeper into the crime than the schoolyard chant does.
Marisa LaScala
Included are the trial and all the trimmings. What's missing is the horror of the event. Except for a few shots of dear old daddy's caved-in face, there's not much gore, even for a TV movie. May 4, 2014 | Rating: C | Full Review…
Included are the trial and all the trimmings. What's missing is the horror of the event. Except for a few shots of dear old daddy's caved-in face, there's not much gore, even for a TV movie.
Paul Chambers
There's a too-quick and convenient wrap-up to the film, but that's the only real sour note Lizzie Borden Took an Ax hits. Apr 8, 2014 | Rating: B | Full Review…
There's a too-quick and convenient wrap-up to the film, but that's the only real sour note Lizzie Borden Took an Ax hits.
Rebecca Murray
Brutal murders, courtroom drama in historical drama. Jan 30, 2014 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Brutal murders, courtroom drama in historical drama.
Joyce Slaton
Lifetime has a knack for attracting top-tier talent for what often ends up being silly little movies, but Lizzie Borden seemed different -- everyone was having a lot of fun without getting too over-the-top campy. Jan 27, 2014 | Full Review…
Lifetime has a knack for attracting top-tier talent for what often ends up being silly little movies, but Lizzie Borden seemed different -- everyone was having a lot of fun without getting too over-the-top campy.
Jean Bentley
The lack of focus, and a protagonist who seemingly can't decide which movie she's in, makes this Lifetime movie a slick but unsatisfying swing and a miss. Jan 27, 2014 | Rating: C | Full Review…
The lack of focus, and a protagonist who seemingly can't decide which movie she's in, makes this Lifetime movie a slick but unsatisfying swing and a miss.
Liane Bonin Starr
We streamed this on Netflix. Great period detail and chemistry between the Borden sisters (Ricci and DuVall). Christina Ricci has the perfect Gothic sensibilities to play this role, a rebel feminist pushing back against her society's constraints. Of course she pushes so far that her role turns to liar and murderer. Ricci was a fan of continuing in this role and became an executive producer on a series, The Lizzie Borden Chronicles, the next year (we also streamed the series). Strange, but not really unexpected in Hollywood constantly rebooting or reimagining projects, that three years later Chloë Sevigny and Kristen Stewart starred in another Lizzie movie.
Super Reviewer
From Lifetime comes the TV movie Lizzie Borden Took an Ax, a chilling drama about the notorious killer. Christina Ricci stars as Lizzie Borden, a New England socialite who feels oppressed and resentful toward her parents, and when they are brutally murdered she finds herself as the prime suspect. Told as a murder mystery, there are hints at a possible third party committing the murders, or that Lizzie had a psychotic break and was unaware of what she had done. However, the writing can be a little weak at times as the courtroom drama isn't exactly riveting. Yet the costumes and sets are especially well-done and look authentic to the time period. And the soundtrack, which is made up of modern alternative rock, offers an interesting juxtaposition to the visual aesthetic. Lizzie Borden Took an Ax meanders a bit, but overall it's a suspenseful psychological thriller.
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I saw this on Lifetime Network. I found it very interesting, and nicely done. Learned some new things to the case that I never knew..that's always a good thing.
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