Death by Lightning Movie Review (2025) | Roger Ebert
Death by Lightning follows a mostly linear timeline with a few well-placed flashbacks that deepen the story.
“Assassination can be no more guarded against than death by lightning, and it’s best not to worry about either.” — President-elect James A. Garfield, in a letter to Secretary of the Treasury John Sherman responding to threats against his life.
The Netflix historical drama mini-series opens in 1969 at the Army Medical Museum. A warehouse crew is packing artifacts when a dust-covered jar containing a human brain falls to the floor. A worker reacts, “Who the f*** is Charles Guiteau?”
Charles Guiteau is a lesser-known figure compared to other presidential assassins. Most people name John Wilkes Booth or Lee Harvey Oswald when asked about presidential killers. Even those who attempted but failed, like Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme and John Hinckley Jr., are more familiar.
Guiteau assassinated President James A. Garfield at a Washington train station on July 2, 1881. Garfield died 79 days later from his wounds. Another largely forgotten assassin is Leon Czolgosz, who killed President William McKinley.
Summary
This mini-series sheds light on the obscure figure of Charles Guiteau and the assassination of President Garfield, using an engaging narrative that mixes historical facts with gripping storytelling.