The Alphabet Killer (2008)

Director:

Rob Schmidt

Writer (WGA):

Tom Malloy (written by)

Release Date:

10 December 2009 (Kuwait)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Based on a true story.

Plot:

Based on the true story of the double initial killings in Rochester, NY. |

Plot Keywords:

Woods | Seeing Dead People | Woman In Uniform | Attempted Suicide | Female Nudity

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Eliza Dushku	...	Megan Paige
Cary Elwes	...	Kenneth Shine
Timothy Hutton	...	Richard Ledge
Tom Malloy	...	Officer Steven Harper
Michael Ironside	...	Captain Nathan Norcross
Bill Moseley	...	Carl Tanner
Carl Lumbly	...	Dr. Ellis Parks
Brian Scannell	...	Jay Castillo
Larry Hankin	...	Perry
Jack McGee	...	Hank
Melissa Leo	...	Kathy Walsh
Andrew Fiscella	...	Len Schafer
Rocco Sisto	...	Father McQuarrie
Tom Noonan	...	Ray Gullikson
Frank Rossi	...	Francis Baker

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some violence.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Certification:

USA:R | Argentina:13 | Germany:16 | Australia:M | Netherlands:16

Filming Locations:

Ridgewood, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

New Films International

Trivia:

While filming portions of the movie in Spencerport, New York, a box truck from the production company pulled down two electrical poles with transformers attached to them. Subsequently, a car was set on fire but was not able to be put out with water until the electricity was turned off. 11 residents were displaced from their homes and offered hotel accommodation by the production company.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the heroine tried to commit suicide by cutting her wrist, she held a knife in her right hand and cut her left wrist. Lying in the hospital bed in the next scene her right wrist was bandaged.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Megan Paige: Mostly the job is to ask questions. The frustrating part, the part that drives you crazy, is that the people you really want to talk to are dead.

Movie Connections:

References The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

Soundtrack:

Skeleton (She's So Cool)

Fairly creepy, with an interesting story

I like films about killers, especially those with an interesting little story or something that makes them a bit different. The Alphabet Killer doesn't disappoint in this respect.

I'll admit, the start was pretty poor, I felt it was quite disjointed and it seemed as though a lot of scenes that should have been there to develop the plot were on the cutting-room floor. However, once we get into the middle and latter stages of the film, we definitely see a marked improvement.

I think Eliza Dushku played her role well in this, and I felt the slant of Megan's mental illness playing such a large part in the story made her character more believable, and added interest to the film.

Overall, this was a nicely put together film. It had little gore or anything really adult-themed, so if that's what you're after this isn't for you. If you want a killer movie portrayed more through the eyes of the main detective than is usual, you might like this. Yeah, you'll probably suss it out, but that's half the fun.