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The Alphabet Killer

  • 2008
  • R
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
9.2K
YOUR RATING
Eliza Dushku in The Alphabet Killer (2008)
Police officer Megan Paige (Dushku) sees her life begin to unravel as she investiagtes a series of brutal killings.
Play trailer1:43
1 Video
27 Photos
True CrimeCrimeMysteryThriller

Based on the true story of the double initial killings in Rochester, NY.Based on the true story of the double initial killings in Rochester, NY.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
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.2/10
    9.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Rob Schmidt
    • Writer
      • Tom Malloy
    • Stars
      • Eliza Dushku
      • Cary Elwes
      • Timothy Hutton
    • 58User reviews
    • 37Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    The Alphabet Killer: Trailer
    Trailer 1:43
    The Alphabet Killer: Trailer

    Photos26

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    Top cast51

    Edit
    Eliza Dushku
    Eliza Dushku
    • Megan Paige
    Cary Elwes
    Cary Elwes
    • Kenneth Shine
    Timothy Hutton
    Timothy Hutton
    • Richard Ledge
    Tom Malloy
    Tom Malloy
    • Officer Steven Harper
    Michael Ironside
    Michael Ironside
    • Captain Nathan Norcross
    Bill Moseley
    Bill Moseley
    • Carl Tanner
    Carl Lumbly
    Carl Lumbly
    • Dr. Ellis Parks
    Brian Scannell
    Brian Scannell
    • Jay Castillo
    Larry Hankin
    Larry Hankin
    • Perry
    Jack McGee
    Jack McGee
    • Hank
    Melissa Leo
    Melissa Leo
    • Kathy Walsh
    Andrew Fiscella
    • Len Schafer
    • (as Andy Fiscella)
    Rocco Sisto
    Rocco Sisto
    • Father McQuarrie
    Tom Noonan
    Tom Noonan
    • Ray Gullikson
    Frank Rossi
    Frank Rossi
    • Francis Baker
    Meltem Cumbul
    Meltem Cumbul
    • Elisa Castillo
    Kristina Jewell
    Kristina Jewell
    • Wendy Walsh
    Sarah Anderson
    Sarah Anderson
    • Elizabeth Eckers
    • Director
      • Rob Schmidt
    • Writer
      • Tom Malloy
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews58

    5.29.2K
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    Featured reviews

    5James-2631

    Eliza Dushku (Megan Paige) was as distractingly B 'class' as this film.

    Eliza Dushku (Megan Paige) was simply distracting. The film was dull with terribly stereotypical characters. Simple as that.

    i just lost interest in the film. I honestly don't understand how other reviews hype Eliza's performance as 'amazing.' I was not impressed. Unfortunately, the only memorable piece of the film was her bland, unconvincing, portrayal of the lead role. She seemed confused, and noticeably self-conscious throughout the film. She is a very pretty girl, and maybe she has chops, but i'm still not confident she does yet.

    If you're looking for a run-of-the-mill serial killer flick and you are easily drawn into stories despite sub-par acting.. This film may be a decent couple hours of mindless entertainment. If you are looking for anything else.... Im afraid you will not find it in this movie.
    6ken-stambaugh

    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.
    2bacon_bit19

    Painful

    Saw the rating of 6/10 on here and decided to give this a try. Bad mistake!

    I thought this was the worst serial killer movie I have ever seen. You know it's a bad sign when the serial killer seems more sane than the lead character.

    The lead character was not very bright nor likable, and I spent most of the movie hoping for her demise.

    Just because it's loosely based off a real life event does not mean it should become a movie.

    I would NOT recommend this movie at all.
    gwarnings13

    Only Watched Because I'm in Rochester

    I only basically wanted to see the location shots of my crap city, and surely did notice a few! The part that really drove me insane is the use of cell phones and laptops. I noticed the cars were pretty old looking but when the dad of Wanda hands over HER CELL PHONE to the cops for her contacts-- the movie was just dead to me after that. The kid was 12 year old and the year was 1972. Also I wasn't sure about the time frame because I think the killer struck again well before two years after the first girl's death.

    I know it was only supposed to be "based on" these murders, but if they went to all the trouble of actually filming on location in Rochester, why didn't they go for a little more credibility? It was just meh, but again, fun for the location shots, and Eliza Deshku is always very good in everything.
    Xorpion

    Annoying Bland Comical

    Bland is the right word to describe this movie. Absolutely nothing interesting, nothing new and a cruelly stupid plot.

    Eliza Dushku is pretty but that is all she is. In most parts of the movie she walks and talks like a zombie. Not sure if that is how delusional people would behave, but her performance looks comical. And since the whole movie circles around her, she single handedly manages to bring the entire movie down.

    I really hope to see her cast in a better and more suitable role.

    This is one such movie where everything looks bad, right from the acting, music, script, dialog, plot – everything.

    I was shaking my head and hoping to see the movie end at some point.

    Stay away from this one – unless you want to totally waste your time.

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    Related interests

    Lee Norris and Ciara Moriarty in Zodiac (2007)
    True Crime
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Based on the true story of the double initial killings in Rochester, NY.
    • Goofs
      (at around 52 mins) When Megan goes into Len's house to talk to her, she is not wearing latex gloves, her fingerprints would be all over everything.
    • 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.

    • Connections
      Edited into The Alphabet Killer: Alternate Scene (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      Skeleton (She's So Cool)
      Written by Nils Alpha / Jukka Sebatian

      Performed by Alpha Kids

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    FAQ24

    • How long is The Alphabet Killer?Powered by Alexa
    • What is 'The Alphabet Killer' about?
    • Is 'The Alphabet Killer' based on a book?
    • What happened in the real Alphabet murders?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 10, 2009 (Kuwait)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Bảng Chữ Tử Thần
    • Filming locations
      • Rochester, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • New Films International
      • Intrinsic Value Films
      • WideyeCreative Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $29,784
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $11,000
      • Nov 9, 2008
    • Gross worldwide
      • $106,596
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 38m(98 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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