THE DARK SIDE MAGAZINE (U.K.) REVIEW
H.H. Holmes: Americas First Serial Killer
(2004)
“John Borowski's award-winning docudrama H.H. Holmes chronicles
the life and crimes of America's First first serial killer. The opening narration
takes place over a shot of Holmes' vast 63rd Street mansion: 'Torture chambers,
secret passageways, vats of acid and deadly vaults...In 1895 Chicago police
unearthed horrific evidence of torture and multiple murders at the sprawling
castle of H.H. Holmes. Masquerading under the guise of caring doctor, kind husband
and prominent business man, H.H. Holmes was a contemporary monster designing
his building solely for the disposal of human bodies.'
His real name was Herman Webster Mudgett and he spent his early years in strict religious study. A high achiever, he became a medical student and then a doctor and con artist. He changed his name to avoid any of his old scams catching up with him. Eventually he pitched up in Chicago at more or less the same time as Jack the Ripper was carving up Whitechapel whores. Holmes set about the construction of what came to be known as his "Castle." He was actually building an abattoir in which he could practice murder. His 'scam' this time was to sell insurance policies to people, then murder them and collect on their behalf! The Holmes story has been told in print in Robert Bloch's novel American Gothic and Erik Larson's recent Bestseller The Devil in the White City.
Borowski uses creepy black and white reconstructions of the crimes accompanied by a doomy narration by Shakespearean actor Tony Jay. As with his ALbert FIsh documentary, Borowski was 'lucky' that Holmes was a compulsive letter-writer and diary-keeper. We also get the usual array of talking heads in the shape of historians and forensic experts who describe how easy it was for Holmes to get away with mass murder in these chaotic and often lawless days. In fact when the secrets of Holmes's "Castle" were eventually revealed, no proper estimate was made of the number of victims.
Most of Holmes' killings were done during the duration of Chicago's 1893 World's
Fair. He rented out rooms to tourists and then bumped them off! His murderous
method was simple. He ran hidden gas pipes into the rooms and just turned them
on when the inhabitant was asleep. One could argue that Holmes was not a serial
killer in the classic sense because most of his murders were done for profit
rather than perverse sexual pleasure. Director Borowski doesn't offer up any
great psychological insights here, but he had constructed a solid, absorbing
documentary utilizing real-life photographs and stock footage of the time. Extras
on the disc include a 20-minute 'Making Of' piece, outtakes, posters, biographies,
and a commentary by director Borowski. Fascinating stuff for fans of true-life
crime.”
- Saul Wright
The Dark Side Magazine
Issue #126 - April 2007
THE DARK SIDE MAGAZINE