THE ALPHABET KILLER is director Rob Schmidt’s first feature length film since WRONG TURN ( Unless you count his Master of Horror television episode RIGHT TO DIE). This film is different from directing a cannibal in the woods film, this time we get a whole serial killer, and ghost story wrapped into one, that takes place over a period of time.
Eliza Dushka (WRONG TURN) plays detective Megan Paige, a women obsessed with a case where a ten year old girl was found brutally murdered in a small town in upstate New York. While having trouble with the case Megan, starts to have a nervous break down and even experiences the ghost of the young girl telling her not to give up on the case. Megan tries to end her own life, but instead ends up getting some help, and also loses her job on the police force. Two years later, Megan is all better and is still seeking therapy, and is doing good. But when the murders start up again, Megan now an advisor with the police force begins to focus all of her energy on the case again. With or without the help the police department she sets off on a quest to solve this crime once and for all.
THE ALPHABET KILLER is based on the true story of the double initial killings in Rochester, New York during the late 1980s. The script for the film written by Tom Malloy (The Attic) is actually a pretty decent script. It does at times seem a bit slow, because there is a lot of police drama like elements to it. But it does have a pretty solid story with pretty good character development, mainly with the lead roles. The dialogue is decent also and it does it’s best to try to covey it’s story and the takes the real life accounts into effect as best it can compared to the real life case.
The acting in this film is very good as it does have a nice ensemble cast. Eliza Dushka is in the lead role as Megan Paige and does hold her own with such an array of very well known and seasoned actors such as Cary Elwes, Tom Malloy, Michael Ironside, Timothy Hutton and House of 1000 Corpses alumni Bill Moseley. The cast is pretty well blended together and all the performances are very good.
The films production value is basic, and does come off a lot like a episode of some cop drama like NYPD BLUE or CSI. The effects are pretty decent, even the visual effects look pretty good. Overall, it’s your basic sets and layout, nothing over the top that makes the films overall visual appearance look spectacular, but it serves it’s purpose in telling the story, and making the film have a believable feel.
The DVD does have a few features such as audio commentary with Producer Isen Robbins and Director Rob Schmidt, as well as a separate commentary with writer, actor and producer Tom Malloy. The DVD also has a “making of” featurette, as well as First Victim – Alternate scene.
Overall, THE ALPHABET KILLER is a pretty good film. It’s nothing over the top that’s worthy of being praised as one of the best films ever made or anything, but it is a film that is worth checking out. It got better as the film moved along, and the mystery got better and more complicated. It was a pretty decent film, which I recommend for fans of the crime dramas on television, and people who enjoy a decent serial killer film with a little ghost like imagery thrown in.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
