The Riverman
The Riverman | |
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Based on | The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt for the Green River Killer by Robert D. Keppel and William J. Birnes |
Screenplay by | Tom Towler |
Directed by | Bill Eagles |
Starring | |
Composer | Jeff Rona |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Producer | Greg Copeland |
Cinematography | Steve Cosens |
Editors |
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Running time | 91 minutes |
Production companies |
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Release | |
Original network | A&E |
Original release |
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The Riverman is a 2004 American biographical crime drama television film directed by Bill Eagles from a screenplay by Tom Towler, based on the 2004 non-fiction book The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt for the Green River Killer by Robert D. Keppel and William J. Birnes. Shot in Halifax, Canada,[1] the film stars Bruce Greenwood, Sam Jaeger, Kathleen Quinlan, and Cary Elwes. It premiered on A&E on September 6, 2004.[1][2] The film follows real life incidents around how convicted infamous serial killer Ted Bundy helps detectives Robert D. Keppel and Dave Reichert by providing insights into the mind of a psychopath killer to catch then active murderer Green River Killer aka Gary Ridgway.
Plot[]
Robert D. Keppel, a criminology professor at the University of Washington, is approached by Detective Dave Reichert to help profile a serial killer preying on prostitutes in the Seattle, Washington area. Keppel agrees over the objections of his wife Sande, who is tired of him spending more time with crime scene investigations than with her.
Keppel receives a letter from serial killer Ted Bundy, whom Keppel had helped send to death row, offering to "consult" on the case. Keppel conducts a series of interviews with Bundy under the guise of wanting his expertise. In reality, he is hoping that Bundy will reveal details of his own murders before he is executed. Bundy is little help in profiling the killer, whom he dubs "The Riverman", but he does shed light on his own pathology, particularly his need to "possess" his victims, even to the point of necrophilia. Finally, Bundy confesses to several unsolved murders in the vain hope that Keppel will delay his execution.
Meanwhile, Keppel and Reichert question a suspect, Gary Ridgway, and take a DNA sample. Years later, the DNA is used to convict Ridgway of the murders.
Cast[]
- Bruce Greenwood as Robert D. Keppel
- Sam Jaeger as Dave Reichert
- Kathleen Quinlan as Sande Keppel
- Cary Elwes as Ted Bundy
- Dave Brown as Gary Ridgway
- Sarah Manninen as Georgeann Hawkins
References[]
- ^ a b Fries, Laura (September 2, 2004). "The Riverman". Variety. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Riverman (2004) – Bill Eagles". AllMovie. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
External links[]
- The Riverman at IMDb
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- 2004 television films
- 2004 films
- 2004 crime drama films
- 2004 crime thriller films
- 2004 biographical drama films
- 2000s serial killer films
- 2004 thriller drama films
- A&E (TV network) original programming
- American biographical drama films
- American crime drama films
- American crime thriller films
- American films
- American thriller drama films
- American serial killer films
- Biographical films about serial killers
- Crime television films
- Drama television films
- English-language films
- Films about Ted Bundy
- Films based on non-fiction books
- Films set in Seattle
- Films shot in Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Thriller films based on actual events
- American thriller television films
- Films directed by Bill Eagles
- 2000s crime film stubs