THE ALPHABET KILLER (2008)

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"Mediocre"

A police detective (Eliza Dushku) investigating the death of a girl finds herself infatuated with the evidence. When she is told to stop working on the case this finally flips her over the edge. A few years later it appears the same killer is at work again, she now has to walk a fine line between investigating the case and holding on to her own sanity.

This is a 'whodunit' but with very little to go on in terms of pieces to fit together from a viewing perspective. You can quite easily guess who the killer is because the casting gives it away. But up until the point the killer reveals themselves, there are no clues to follow from an audience perspective. Which I personally don't like, I like to be able to piece things together as I watch.

It contained pretty decent acting overall but nothing amazing. The lead character came across well, nice to see Michael Ironside around and working. But no outstanding stellar performances from anybody to highlight.

The camera work in this film is a bit strange. I couldn't make up my mind if the camera was supposed to wobble, for effect, or if the cameraman was drunk. Whatever the reason it didn't add much to the film and there are some strange camera angles that don't particularly work that well. Being viewed from a distance as if being watched, but that wasn't the reason. Some of it was particularly strange.

This is loosely based on a true story, in much the same way as Zodiac. But there is a supernatural element involved with this, which I think adds a little to the film. Although you are not sure if that supernatural element exists or is just an hallucination. It is shown to the viewer as supernatural. So it does have the odd sort of jump and bump moment here and there.

I was disappointed with the fact I guessed the killer early on - but due to casting and nothing more. I hate it when they do this, cast a reasonably well known actor in a bit part - you always know there is more to it.

Having no clues as well to pickup didn't make you feel like you were part of the investigation, putting together your own thoughts on the killer. Instead you just observe. It could have been more interesting with a bit of misdirection, more leads to go on and generally a slightly more interesting plot line.

This is a film that you could probably take or leave. It is not that great that you should go out of your way to see it. But at the same time it isn't that bad either that you should avoid it.