THE RIVER MURDERS
US, 2011, 92 minutes, Colour.
Ray Liotta, Christian Slater, Ving Rhames, Gisele Fraga, Melora Waters, Michael Rodrick.
Directed by Rich Cowan.
A serial killer is murdering women that a local detective (Ray Liotta) has had sexual relationships with. This is a standard detective thriller with the complication of the detective trying to remember his list of potential victims of the killer, trying to know how the killer could make his own list. The murderer is revealed early in the film when he goes to a massage parlour wearing a clerical suit and collar and persuades the proprietor to give him a massage. The episode seems plausible, especially with the changing image of the priest and sexual behaviour.
The twist in the plot is that he is the detective’s son, who was not aborted when it was thought his mother had undergone an abortion. The murders are not only revenge on his father, whose identity he discovered, torturing his mother before he killed her, but is a religious extremist. In fact, he had entered a seminary but had been asked to leave because of his intense, fanatical views. Seeing himself as the fulfilment of the prophecy in Malachi 4, he was to be the new Elijah before the coming of Christ, A great deal is made of the verse in Hosea 14:1 about vengeance on Samaria, especially on faithless women and their children. This is explained by a priest (Episcopalian or ‘movie-generic’, judging by the church in which his scenes were filmed) who does not, however, mention the main Hosea theme of God’s loving forgiveness and reconciliation.
1. A standard thriller? Murder mystery? Police work? Detection? The religious dimension?
2. The Seattle setting, the city, the landmarks, the weather? Police precincts? Homes? The river?
3. The title, the focus on the victims? Activity at the river?
4. Jack Verdon, detective work, his relationship with his wife, his link to the victims, it emerging that they were the women he had sexual relationships with? The reaction of his wife, fearing his guilt?
5. Agent Vukovitch, the FBI, collaboration, clash, suspicions, investigation?
6. The police captain, his work with the Verdon? Detective work, responsibilities, the enquiry?
7. The issue of the women, the relationship with Verdon, the issue of abortion, anti-abortion stances?
8. The killer, introduced early to the film, the relationship with Jack, the religious background, seeing himself as the fulfilment of prophecies, anti-abortion, seminary days, his pretending to be a priest, the situation, the final confrontation and solution?
