MOVIE REVIEW: Murder in the First (1995)
Truth takes the stand—but history takes a few liberties.
Murder in the First is a dramatic, emotionally raw legal thriller that tells the semi-true story of Henri Young (Kevin Bacon), a petty criminal who ends up in Alcatraz and suffers years of brutal solitary confinement. His eventual act of violence and the courtroom battle that follows challenges the very legitimacy of America’s most notorious prison.
The film’s narrative unfolds through the eyes of a fresh-faced public defender, James Stamphill (played with idealistic pluck by Christian Slater), who finds himself entangled in a legal and moral crusade to expose the cruel conditions of Alcatraz and save Young from the death penalty.
Kevin Bacon’s tour de force
Let’s get this out of the way: Kevin Bacon is phenomenal. His portrayal of Henri Young is a harrowing descent into trauma, despair, and flickers of childlike innocence. It’s the kind of performance that makes you forget you’re watching an actor. He earned a SAG nomination for it, and honestly, he deserved more. Slater, as his legal champion, does a solid job balancing heart and fire, but it’s Bacon who owns the screen.
Gary Oldman turns up the sinister to 11 as the warden, Milton Glenn—a character you want to throw into a cell yourself. He’s pure villain, with zero nuance, but Oldman knows how to chew scenery like it’s steak.
The emotional arc
This film does not hold back on trying to wreck your soul. From Young’s torture scenes to his courtroom breakdowns, the emotional manipulation is turned up to the max. At times, it’s powerful; at others, a bit too calculated. Think The Shawshank Redemption meets A Few Good Men, with less restraint and a lot more moral high-horsing.
Historical inaccuracies: Let’s talk turkey
Here’s where the courtroom drama starts to wobble a bit. While Murder in the First claims inspiration from real events, it plays fast and loose with the facts. The real Henri Young was not some poor kid who stole $5 to feed his sister. In reality, he was a hardened bank robber who’d been involved in violent crimes before Alcatraz.
The film paints Young as a tragic symbol of institutional abuse—which isn’t entirely untrue, as Alcatraz was infamous for harsh conditions—but the notion that his trial helped shut down Alcatraz? Not even close. Alcatraz remained open for another two decades after the supposed events of the film.
Also, James Stamphill—Slater’s character—doesn’t seem to have a clear real-life equivalent. His role in the film is more of a narrative device than a historical figure. So we’re deep into “Hollywood truth” territory here.
Final Verdict
Murder in the First isn’t a history lesson—it’s a courtroom melodrama with its heart on its sleeve and its facts… well, mostly in the bin. But as a film? It’s gripping, emotional, and anchored by a devastatingly good performance from Kevin Bacon.
If you’re looking for legal realism, watch The People v. O.J. Simpson. If you want a good cry, some righteous fury, and an excuse to throw popcorn at the screen every time Gary Oldman shows up, Murder in the First delivers.
★★★½ out of 5