Executions: The Rise and Fall of Capital Punishment vs The Act of Killing
Executions: The Rise and Fall of Capital Punishment has the higher audience score (10/10 against 7.7/10 for The Act of Killing). Executions: The Rise and Fall of Capital Punishment is the shorter watch at 1h compared with 1h 57m. The Act of Killing is the older of the two (2012 against 2025). Both are documentary movies, so they suit a similar mood.
Executions: The Rise and Fall of Capital Punishment
The Act of Killing| Executions: The Rise and Fall of Capital Punishment | The Act of Killing | |
|---|---|---|
| Audience score | ★ 10.0/10 | ★ 7.7/10 |
| Year | 2025 | 2012 |
| Length | 1h | 1h 57m |
| Genres | Documentary | Documentary |
| Country | United Kingdom | – |
| Director | Steve Lawson | Joshua Oppenheimer |
| Main cast | Richard Felix, Mark Topping | Anwar Congo, Herman Koto, Syamsul Arifin, Ibrahim Sinik, Yapto Soerjosoemarno |
Synopsis
Executions: The Rise and Fall of Capital Punishment
From ancient practices such as death by a thousand cuts and hanging, drawing and quartering to the modern scientific era of lethal injection, we ask the question: do the most horrific crimes deserve the most horrific of punishments?
The Act of Killing
In this chilling and groundbreaking documentary, former Indonesian death squad leaders reenact their real-life mass killings in the style of various film genres, from gangster epics to musicals. As they recreate their past atrocities, the line between reality and performance blurs, exposing the lingering impact of Indonesia’s 1965-66 anti-communist purge and the unsettling psychology of its perpetrators.
Where to watch
Where to watch Executions: The Rise and Fall of Capital PunishmentWhere to watch The Act of Killing
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