On Death Row

No matter where you stand on the death-penalty debate, this is must-watch revelation--and, thanks to Herzog, tense and suspenseful drama.

Herzog listens and interjects his own helpfully perverse insights.

His style of filmmaking--to obsessively explore his subject from as many points of entry as possible--is the cinematic definition of thought-provoking.

A surprising element of the series--making it both compelling and perversely enjoyable--is that Mr. Herzog loosens up, getting more argumentative in the interviews and presenting moments of mordant humor.

The strength of his film is that he leaves it to us to make our own decisions about Barnes and the other death row inmates.

This one gets catergorized as both yuck and yikes TV. Not for the weak of stomach or pure of heart.