There surely isn't a more eclectic director in the world of movies today than Werner Herzog.
His variety of feature films in the last five years alone is astonishing if a bit bizarre - and to be truthful he doesn't always hit the mark with me.
I loved Bad Lieutenant but was let down by the mangling of history in Rescue Dawn.
Meanwhile, I yawned through the much-acclaimed Cave Of Forgotten Dreams but was entranced by Into The Abyss.
What I do have to commend him for is that he is not a director who is influenced by anything other than his own conscience.
That led him, as someone who is keenly against capital punishment, to record a documentary about death row inmate Michael Perry and lifer Jason Birkett, who were both found guilty of a triple homicide in 2001.
The film, incidentally, is part of the Human Rights Watch film festival currently taking place in London and is being released generally on Friday.
I digress.
Herzog comes at the case of Perry and Birkett from several different angles.
Firstly, he interviews the inmates themselves about their view of the crimes. Perry is facing death by lethal injection within the month, while Birkett is serving life imprisonment.
A police officer takes us through the awful slayings of a mother, her son and his friend - all murdered so a car could be stolen.
The effects on the families of those killed is laid bare by interviews with them.
There are also emotional conversations with those who have to take responsibility for the final hours and minutes of a death row prisoner.
Through the interviews, Herzog leaves the viewer to mull over not only the subject of capital punishment but also the reasons for crime.
Conroe, Texas, where the murders happened is portrayed as a dark place where whole families are in jail and tragedy is commonplace.
Frankly, it seems to me that nobody would have a chance if they were brought up there. It is a town which appears to be the antithesis of the American dream.
Herzog's use of music is key to the real-life drama which he investigates. It is a score which begs contemplation.
But, despite much to be praised in this piece of work, there are two key points which let it down.
Herzog is too keen to point out his own stance on state executions. This early admission threw me for a while because it led me to anticipate a propaganda film.
Actually, he does explore all sides of the argument with the exception of one key issue: he did not confront the innocence-proclaiming Perry with the compelling evidence of his guilt.
Nevertheless, it is an excellent piece of journalism and certainly ranks among the Herzog 'good stuff' in my opinion.
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity:  none
Overall rating: 7.5/10