On Jan. 25, Lifetime will be airing one of their new original movies based on the infamous axe murderer, Lizzie Borden. Starring Christina Ricci, Lizzie Borden Took an Axe is a retelling of the true story of Borden, a Sunday school teacher in Massachusetts.
The TV movie’s title comes from the famous jump rope rhyme about Borden, “Lizzie Borden took an ax...and gave her mother forty whacks...when she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one."
The retelling of the story will involve the famous hatchet murder and the court case and trial that followed the bloody deaths of Borden’s parents, including how young Borden tried and acquitted for the crimes.
Ricci describes her experience on the set of the movie as perfect for her. In a usatoday interview Ricci states “I loved the idea of living inside someone so villainous and trying to express the person everyone can relate to.” Ricci also stated that she was interested in taking on the role of Borden because of the way director, Nick Gomez, was going to interpret the story.
Other cast members include Clea DuVall, who is best known for her work in Oscar winning film, Argo and season two of American Horror Story, will be playing Borden’s older sister Emma. Billy Campbell, famous for his roll in The Rocketeer will also be in the TV movie as Lizzie’s lawyer, Andrew Jennings.
The Lifetime movie is sure to promise dramatic and suspenseful moments, although creating a more glamorized and attractive version of the story due to Ricci and the rest of the cast.
The movie will premiere next Saturday at 8pm.