About the film
Wisconsin Death Trip is a 1999 docudrama written for the screen and directed by James Marsh. Based on Michael Lesy’s 1973 historical nonfiction book, it dramatizes macabre incidents from and around Black River Falls, Wisconsin, in the late nineteenth century. The film contrasts silent black-and-white reenactments with contemporary color footage of the region.
Sir Ian Holm provides voice-over narration drawn from newspaper articles written about the events. Music in the film includes work by DJ Shadow and John Cale. Running 76 minutes, Wisconsin Death Trip is classified as both a documentary film and drama film.
It was produced by James Marsh, is in English, and comes from the United States. The entry lists Marsh as both director and producer and provides an official page for the film.
Who it is for
It suits viewers interested in historical docudrama, regional American history, and reconstructed accounts of unusual events. Students may find its combination of reenactment, contemporary footage, and newspaper narration useful.
Worth knowing
- Based on Michael Lesy’s historical nonfiction book
- Contrasts black-and-white reenactments with color footage
- Narrated by Sir Ian Holm
- Includes music by DJ Shadow and John Cale
- 76-minute runtime
Before you press play
- Dramatizes macabre late-nineteenth-century incidents
- Released in 1999
The short of it
Wisconsin Death Trip combines historical source material with reenactment and location footage to portray events around Black River Falls. Its narration and visual contrast give the 76-minute film a distinctive docudrama structure.