Review: The River Murders

Police detective Ray Liotta becomes the prime suspect in a series of murders of girls he has known in the biblical sense. Antagonistic FBI agent Christian Slater is called in to investigate, and takes an immediate disliking to Liotta. Liotta’s girlfriend Gisele Fraga, meanwhile, has a hard time hearing about her main man’s long string of former bed mates. Meanwhile, Liotta’s boss (Ving Rhames) and partner (Sarah Ann Schultz) do all they can to help him, whilst the audience is introduced to the real killer, a religious nutter played by Michael Rodrick, who has a connection to Liotta deep in his past that is slowly revealed. Raymond J. Barry plays Liotta’s recently widowed dad.

 

A tired and clichéd killer thriller, this 2011 film from Rich Cowan looks like a drab Canadian made-for-TV film (aside from some nice rainy scenery) and plays like a lame episode of “Criminal Minds”. Except with a lot more uses of the word ‘vagina’. Cinematographer Dan Heigh really ought to have turned a few more lights on. It’s not a bad film, but an entirely predictable one. It’s unfortunate that Cowan and writer Steve Anderson have not protected their twists well at all. I worked out what was going on within 15 minutes, even before any symbolism started turning up. The big twist, predictable as it is, I must admit is still rather brutal. But overall, this is just a tired, somewhat competent, but ultimately forgettable story.

 

It’s sad to see three well-known stars (Ray Liotta, Christian Slater, and Ving Rhames) slumming, but at least Liotta and especially Slater bring something to the table here. Slater’s overly loud, obnoxious turn is entirely entertaining, he cracked me up, intentional or not. He’s perfect casting at any rate, and seemingly enjoying himself. Liotta, meanwhile, shows he can play a good guy, albeit a good guy under suspicion. His weathered facial features and overall presence are a real asset to the mediocre material. Rhames, however, completely misses out in a role that really ought to have gone to a Bill Duke or a Charles S. Dutton. Just what is Rhames doing to his career these days? Meanwhile, not everyone can be a Rutger Hauer, John C. McGinley, or an Anthony Hopkins, but Michael Rodrick (Despite the plot being a ‘cop comes under suspicion’ story, we know he’s the killer very early on, even if we don’t know who he is exactly) brings absolutely nothing to the table as the chief menace. Also, as much as Gisele Fraga has a language excuse for her rather stiff performance, the terrible Sarah Ann Schultz has no such excuse. She just flat-out sucks. As for Raymond J. Barry, he’s a good actor, but admit it, every time you see him now you’re thinking: Wrong kid died. In all seriousness, he doesn’t have much screen time, but he does his job well as always.

 

This is an average film that needed to keep its twists well hidden, and also needed a lot more Christian Slater. I can’t believe I’m typing that last part.

 

Rating: C+