Gory greetings! Welcome to another exciting edition of IT CAME FROM THE MAILBOX, a column where your old pal Brain Hammer reviews whatever random crap the good folks at horroryearbook decide to throw my way.

THE RIVERMAN is a film based on real life events that were recounted in the best selling book The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt for the Green River Killer, co-written by Robert Keppel. Keppel is a former criminal investigator who worked both the Bundy and Green River Killer cases. The film takes place in 1982 and highlights a frustrated young detective named Dave Reichert who draws the unfortunate assignment of working Seattle’s Green River murder case. Reichert turns to retired Keppel for help, and Keppel hesitatingly agrees. Things get interesting when Keppel receives a letter from non other than Ted Bundy himself, offering to help out with the investigation. Keppel then begins a series of taped interviews with Bundy that eventually lead to Bundy’s breakdown and confession to eight previously unsolved murders.

The premise might sound familiar, because this real life story was the inspiration for The Silence Of The Lambs. The idea of a cop going to a serial killer for help with an investigation is now shopworn, but The Riverman has the advantage of being based on a true story. Tom Towler’s script, which is based on Robert Keppel’s book, is also exceptionally well written. The epic monologues that Cary Elwes delivers about murder and the way the Riverman feels when stalking his prey are chilling. I have listened to this movie several times while it plays in the background as I write this review, and the exchanges between Bruce Greenwood & Cary Elwes at the end of the film are powerful and gripping without even looking at the screen.

Serial killer bio-pics are very hit & miss. For every good one (Ed Gein) you stumble upon there’s a dozen more that are completely worthless. (Too many to mention) The Riverman ranks as one of the very best that I’ve seen. Interestingly enough, this film was made for television back in 2004 and is only now seeing a dvd release. That had me thinking this would be a lame melodramatic “docudrama,” but I’m happy to report that The Riverman is actually a very good serial killer film.

This is hands down the best film about Ted Bundy ever made. The casting and costumes are perfect. Cary Elwes absolutely inhabits the role and makes it real. He plays Bundy to creepy perfection. I love the little details, such as Bundy’s dirty feet in his prison cell, and the fact you see him beating off while looking at a true Crime magazine. Elwes plays the part with the perfect amount of menace and mincing. He’s loathsome and pathetic, which is the way he should be portrayed. Elwes has a great chemistry with his co-star Bruce Greenwood. The climatic final scene where Keppel walks Bundy through the details of one of his murders is riveting.

The only minor complaint I have about the film are the scenes spent with Robert Keppel’s family. For some reason the families of cops in these movies are always wretchedly annoying, and this film is no exception. The scenes with Keppel and his overly-dramatic wife who says her job is “to protect this family” and complains of her husband “coming to bed with his hands full of DEATH” are real eye-rollers. The actress who plays the wife has the rancid stank of soap operas all over her. The rest of the supporting cast isn’t that hot either, but the movie really revolves around the solid performances of Elwes and Greenwood so it doesn’t matter.

The other star of the show is Dave Brown in the pivotal role of the Green River Killer himself, Gary Ridgeway. Ridgeway is only briefly featured in the film, but the scenes where he appears are some of the very best. Brown does a fantastic job portraying Ridgeway and perfectly mimmicks his odd voice and speaking patterns. It’s actually a bit of a waste that Dave Brown doesn’t get more screen time. I would love to see him play the role of Ridgeway in a full length film. The film ends with a disturbing little diatribe from Brown as Gary Ridgeway, which is appropriate because like Ted Bundy says earlier in the film “These are complex people. People who have things to teach us about life, about ourselves.”

The Riverman will be released on dvd January 12, 2010. Brain Hammer approved and highly recommended for the serial killer/true crime enthusiasts.

KEEP THE BLOOD FLOWING!!!