The Alphabet Killer (2008)

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

Director:

Rob Schmidt

Writer:

Tom Malloy

Stars:

Eliza Dushku, Cary Elwes, Timothy Hutton

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

In Rochester, a pre-teen girl is abducted, raped, and murdered. Detective Megan Paige investigates: she works long hours obsessively, and soon she's seeing visions of the dead girl. The FBI profiles the killer as a spontaneous drifter, lucky not to get caught; Megan thinks he's local and a methodical planner. She notes that the victim's first and last names and the place the body was left start with "C." When a second murder follows the same pattern, Megan is vindicated, but her obsessions get the best of her, and her mental state impedes her work. With the help of medication, therapy, and a friend, can she regain her equilibrium and catch the alphabet killer?

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Plot Keywords:

seeing dead people | schizophrenia | based on true story | running for your life | trip and fall | 

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Taglines:

Based on a true story.

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 December 2009 (Kuwait)

Also Known As:

O Assassino do Alfabeto

Filming Locations:

East Rochester, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,000, 9 November 2008

Gross USA:

$29,784

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$106,596

Company Credits

Production Co:

Intrinsic Value Films, New Films International, WideyeCreative Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film is dedicated in memory of Stuart Rosenberg, mentor of the director.

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Goofs

After speaking with the Webster Police Department the officers are going to their car in a parking garage. There is no parking garage in the village of Webster.

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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.

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Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Sunday School Musical (2019)

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Soundtracks

Skeleton (She's So Cool)
Written by Nils Alpha / Jukka Sebatian
Performed by Alpha Kids

User Reviews

not horrible, but definitely not great

I normally am not a fan of crime movies, especially those based on reality but stretched to the extreme, and the "Alphabet Killer" is no exception. Poor acting, horrible misrepresentation of reality, inaccuracy beyond belief, and camera work that my high school journalist could have topped takes this movie to the bottom. I do, however, enjoy movies that i don't know what's going to happen five minutes into it, and that is where this movie does succeed.

I watched "Alphabet Killer" twice; once confused and then once playing the "Alphabet Killer" drinking game. Neither was incredibly enjoyable but compared to most of the films these days it was not repulsive. If you are bored and happen to have a free redbox code its worth the 2 hours for sheer enjoyment of how truly worthless cops are.

I know this is one of my less useful reviews but i really don't have much to say about this movie; that's why i watched it twice. It really isn't that bad but at the same time it's not that good. I gave it the benefit of having funny cop hating to get the 6 instead of the 4.