Review of The Alphabet Killer (2008) by Doctor S — 23 Feb 2010

Based on the real crimes near Rochester, NY in the early 1970s also known by the clunkier Double-Letter Murders. The criminal was never caught, but this movie takes an interesting tangential direction by supposing that one detective came close. Eliza Dushku is a cop in a precarious mental state: her obsession with the first murder led to hallucinations and a mental breakdown. Two years later and back on the force, she knows more about the details than anyone so her boss & ex-fiancee reluctantly puts her back on the case when the killer strikes again.

Good performances with some atypically sympathetic police officers (don't worry, there is a major a-hole among them) and Dushku's deteriorating condition give this serial killer story some fresh surroundings. Unfortunately the events become rapidly farfetched towards the end, with a very unsatisfying revelation of the killer's identity.