SHOCK CINEMA MAGAZINE REVIEW

Albert Fish (2007)

“Following his success with H.H. HOLMES: AMERICA'S FIRST SERIAL KILLER, director John Borowski tackles another legendary deviant in ALBERT FISH (Waterfront Productions), a feature-length profile of an unassuming old coot who was also Depression-era Manhattan's most notorious child-murdering, cannibalistic psychopath. Mixing personal letters, photos, newspaper headlines, NYC archival footage, occasionally-hokey dramatic reenactments (with Oto Brezina playing the elderly Fish), and a visit to Joe Coleman's collection of Fish memorabilia, the film chronicles Fish's crazed life–from abused childhood to the electric chair at age 65. Over the years, Fish molested or slaughtered an uncountable number of children (the minimum estimate is 100), amidst a life filled with prostitution, S&M, bisexuality, abandonment, self-flagellation, visions of Christ, and humaine cuisine (specifically, how to properly cook a child and their choicest cuts). Meanwhile, post-conviction psychiatric sessions and assorted 'experts' speculate on the deeper motivations behind Fish's actions. Effectively narrated by the late Tony Jay, this informative portrait of evil doesn't skimp on the grisly facts, but it never slides into exploitation. In fact, even the recreations are nothing you couldn't see on a CSI episode, which might disappoint viewers looking for sick thrills. Extras include the usual outtakes and director's interview, as well as a few bizarre additions: Q&A's with convicted French cannibal Nico Claux and musician Corporate Death from the 'murder metal' band Macabre (who sing lousy songs based on true crimes), plus a history of the electric chair.”

Shock Cinema Magazine
Issue #33 fall 2007