The Bottom Line
A unique documentary about a dark time in a beautiful place that uses Ian Holm's narration, incredible vintage photographs, and artful reenactments to strong effect.
Pros
- Fascinating documentary about a small Wisconsin town in the 1890s
- Bizarre and distrurbing occurences narrated by Ian Holm
- Killer soundtrack
Cons
- You should know what you're getting into--this is not a film like any other
Description
- USA, 1999. 76 minutes.
- Written and directed by James Marsh.
- Commentary Track
- Deleted Scenes
- Making-Of Featurette, "Midwestern Gothic"
- Essay by Greil Marcus
Guide Review - Wisconsin Death Trip DVD
"Wisconsin Death Trip" is a film like no others. Based on the book by Michael Lesy, it accumulates newspaper articles, asylum logs, and other authentic sources to reconstruct terrifying events in Black River Falls, Wisconsin during the 1890s. Driven insane by economic depression, deprivation, and hunger, inhabitants resorted to random violence, arson, suicide, and murder at an incredible rate and frequency. It is horrifying and strangely exhilerating to watch the ceaseless parade of atrocities, set to beautiful classical music, John Cale, and DJ Shadow and illustrated by surviving photographs and convincing black-and-white enactments. For anybody with a morbid streak, "Wisconsin Death Trip" provides a fascinating look at civilization breaking down.
