DIR. WERNER HERZOG | 2011 | GERMANY & CANADA | 107 MIN

Starting from a Texas triple homicide, master filmmaker Werner Herzog (Cave of Forgotten Dreams) probes the human psyche to explore why people kill – and why a state kills. In intimate conversations with victims’ families, a state executioner, a prison pastor, and a 28-year-old death row inmate days away from execution, Herzog achieves what he describes as “a gaze into the abyss of the human soul.” His investigation unveils layers of humanity, finding enlightenment in ominous territory.

Exploring an American gothic landscape, he takes us from luxury homes to impoverished trailers to prison cells. Herzog’s inquiries yield surprising moments that speak to a variety of human tendencies, including regret, redemption and irrational behaviour. As he’s done so often before, Herzog turns ominous territory into an enlightening trip.

"Ranks among Werner Herzog's finest...Suggests a cinematic equivalent of Truman Capote's In Cold Blood." - SCREEN INTERNATIONAL