LastingAware The greatest movie ever!

SeeQuant Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

Robert Joyner The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Darin One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

Der_Schnibbler Despite being America's "first" (or at least first known) serial killer, H.H. Holmes doesn't ring a bell the way the names of other well-known sociopaths' do. So there isn't too much to go on, and this documentary, I suppose, is all we're going to have for a while as far as film sources go.I cannot judge how factual or historically accurate the documentary was, it being my first exposure to this man, but there are a few comments I'd like to make on it purely as a documentary.Firstly, the narrator is the best part. Great voice. The score is also good. Pictures and newspaper headlines are used very well. The narrated excerpts from Holmes' own writing succeed in bringing this creature to life.What distracted heavily were two things.Firstly, the unnamed (or perhaps I missed his name) guy sitting in the room with the too-bright background (in comparison to the shots from which his scenes would cut) who always ended his sentences with a rising inflection? Do you have any earthly idea how irritating and distracting that is? It nearly makes you want to pull your hair out?The second was the so-called criminal or forensic psychologist or whatever ludicrous title they chose to give him. A round-faced, over- excited, bug-eyed little man who, instead of giving us authoritative, factual, and insightful commentary on Holmes' character, acts more like a two-bit talk show host. Get this MORON out of there. Why in the world would the director, who certainly spent no small amount of time and money on this documentary, intentionally mar it with this nincompoop?Sometimes scenes would cut from the first guy mentioned above (maybe it was the director himself) to the clown guy, and it would just make you insane.I never understand why people who put in sweat and money into making a film would not have the sense to at least avoid such glaringly obvious errors. Did no one think to tell that dude, "STOP ending every sentence like it's a god damned QUESTION!"? Did no one think, "No, better not hire some weirdo charlatan type who claims to be a forensic expert. We can certainly find a knowledgeable person who will lend insight and capture viewers' interest." Why did no one think of this? Why? What a shame.Special mention is due for the unnamed lady who all too briefly appeared once or twice and professionally, intelligently gave us great information on police and forensic techniques of the late 19th century. It should have been her instead of that clownish dolt.

Michael O'Keefe Often forgotten, mostly unknown H.H. Holmes was the first of note to string murders together just for the hell of it. Holmes was born Herman Mudgett in New Hampshire. He would use dozens of aliases during his life of crime. Holmes actually graduated from the Michigan Medical School in 1884, with the fascination of the human corpse. In the late 1800's, he personally designed a building, called The Castle, in Chicago with the sole purpose of having secret torture chambers, acid vats and small crematory in the basement. Most of his victims were unsuspecting visitors to the 1893 World's Fair. He would offer them rented rooms, where he would torture them. He would admit to killing over 200; but was never proved. This documentary at times will seem haphazard and a bit confusing as it rambles about the life of Holmes with use of still photos, newsreels and stock footage. Holmes was hanged in 1896. Written, directed and produced by John Borowski and narrated by Tony Jay.

gavin6942 Torture chambers, acid vats, greased chutes and gassing rooms were just some of the devices of death designed by the Torture Doctor, H.H. Holmes in his castle of horrors. Follows Holmes' entire life as a criminal mastermind.As a resident of Wisconsin, I have always found serial murder interesting. Yes, I do think there is a connection, because we have Ed Gein and Jeffrey Dahmer in our state legends. And HH Holmes, being from Chicago, is one of those that captures my interest -- Chicago is the closest large city, and its history is almost local.This is a pretty good documentary. Of course, being a story that happened in the 1800s, you can only have so much video footage. But they flesh it out with photos, reenactments, and plenty of modern-day experts on Holmes and murder. I was pleased, and at just over an hour it gives you plenty of information without dragging on.

jeffgrooves Being a bit of a "true crime" buff, it's always nice to see a documentary that is well researched and contains all the most important elements of a true story. That appears to be the case in this well-made documentary film about late 1800's serial-killer HH Holmes. Writer/Director John Borowski pulls this story out of the basement and reintroduces it to the world in this engrossing documentary. You've heard the names Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and John Wayne Gacy, but have you heard the name HH Holmes? Maybe not. His crimes took place during the late 1800's and have been overshadowed by the gruesome misadventure of more recent killers. However, those of you that are interested in the whole "true crime" thing might be intrigued to learn of Holmes' horrific crimes and how they share similarities in some aspects with modern killers such as Bundy, Dahmer, and other notorious bad boys. A Must See for true crime buffs!