The Riverman (2004 TV Movie) User Reviews

Only if you have a lot of interest in serial killers

[starring-1 · 5/10 · 6 September 2004]

First I must say that Cary Elwes did a very convincing portrayal of Ted Bundy. I thought he looked a lot like him and did a good acting job.

This movie is for those who want to go deeply into the killer's mind and perhaps discover new things about Bundy and his childhood. (For instance in one part he tells the detective that as a child his mother threatened to send him to stay with his grandfather if he wasn't good and that he would try to be good but she would send him there anyway; then his grandfather would lock him in a closet). It also caused me to think about how much more useful it would be to keep people like him alive to analyze, study and try to understand what triggered his heinous psychology.

This is a dark movie and not entertaining; not something I would watch for entertainment or fun in any sense. It was more like watching reenactments and felt sometimes more like watching a documentary than a movie.

The film also goes into the psychology somewhat of a serial killer known as "The Green River Killer."

I think of this as more of an educational film. Women for instance could watch it with an eye to learn tricks Bundy and the Green River Killer used to catch their prey (both seemed to like the trick of pretending to be disabled and in need of help for example). The film also highlights what it is like for those who interviewed Bundy hoping he could help them get into the mind of another killer they were trying to apprehend -- how dark and freaky it is. All around, as is its subject, the movie it pretty grisly. Definitely not a "date movie," haha.

Some people are fascinated with learning more about serial killers and for those people this is probably a film they would like to see; but for most of us, I think we would rather be spared all the grisly details.

Good acting all around and good cinematography, etc.; slow moving, graphic photos of murdered women I would rather not have seen. I personally would not recommend this movie to anyone other than those I mentioned above -- who like to study this sort of thing and are always hungry for more details. Lots of creepiness here!

And please, mothers, fathers and others: don't lock the kid(s) up in the closet!! I gave this a 5 rating.

Inside The Mind Of Two Serial Killers

[TheAnimalMother · 7/10 · 13 December 2021]

This film is based upon the 1989 non-fiction book The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt for the Green River Killer by Robert D. Keppel and William J. Birnes. Many have claimed this book actually inspired the Harris novel The Silence of the Lambs. However this is not true. This book was actually released after Harris's Silence novel. So unless Harris had a time machine, yeah, no. Harris may have indeed been influenced by this real life story from seeing or hearing about it in the press or elsewhere, or perhaps from reading about the FBI who did very similar interviews in the 1970's and 80's as is shown in the TV series Mindhunter. Nonetheless, contrary to popular rumor, SilenceOTL is not based on the book that this is based on. This film is actually pretty good if you're interested in Bundy or The Green River Killer. The film essentially becomes more about Bundy than the GRK, but nonetheless we do learn a good bit about both. This film, like The Deliberate Stranger has a good bit of very real Bundy-esque truths within it. To some degree, we definitely are able to get inside his head if we dare, and into Ridgeway's to some degree as well. Keppel after all was a Homicide Detective who worked both cases, and he became known as quite an educated profiler in understanding serial killers. Much of this is shown here. Overall the film is quite grim and fairly brutal, especially for a TV movie. It's more psychologically grim and brutal than visually, though it has some grim visuals as well. If you're interested and you can stomach this kind of fare, it's well worth a look. 7/10.

More cinematic than your usual TV-film, and reasonably well-done overall

[TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews · 6/10 · 5 October 2007]

I haven't read the book behind this, and I don't know too many details about Bundy or the Green River Killer case. I caught this on TV, and it looked interesting enough, so I watched it, more or less attentively. I haven't seen any footage of the real Bundy, but according to others, Cary Elwes does well in portraying him accurately... and I can attest to the fact that he manages to be quite creepy. I don't know that I would have thought he would be able to play a part like that, if nothing else, so convincingly. The acting in general isn't bad. I haven't seen anything else by the director, but he does fairly well. The film doesn't feel or look "TV", but rather like something produced for the silver screen. Editing and cinematography are good. They never get flashy or overdone, either. The pacing isn't bad, but the movie isn't particularly intense considering what it's about. The end comes somewhat abruptly. The movie could have been longer, and maybe it should have, because what's there is good, but it could have used more time spent on it. This is said to be the best acting job on Bundy thus far seen, so anyone looking for that might want to give this a look. A good enough TV-movie. I recommend this to those interested in the subject and fans of the actors and/or film-makers. 6/10

Shades of other films, but a distinct style of its own

[inkburned · 7 September 2004]

One thing I noticed about this movie almost immediately was the similarities between it and Silence of the Lambs. The theme of the detective going to one serial killer in order to penetrate the mind of another serial killer is present within both films, but after that the similarities begin to dissipate. Bruce Greenwood as Robert Keppel allows his character to have faults and use at least some of them to his advantage. Cary Elwes is almost unrecognizable in his nuanced performance as Ted Bundy.

For me, the direction left nothing to be desired. Although movies and novels about murderers and serial killers are a dime a dozen these days (check the blurbs on the back of the paperback novels in the 'book' section of your grocery store, if it has one) 'The Riverman' adds some unexpected details that added depth to the characters and their story. There are glimpses into the minds of Bundy and Keppel throughout the movie, and I was pleased to see how they compared and overlapped. The energy was not as frantic as some cop shows make the serial killer chase out to be, but there was still a sense of urgency and electricity underlying the interactions between Bundy, Keppel, and the young detective Dave Reichert who tries his best to do the job right. The control and fresh take on this piece take it above and beyond the rest of the TV movies I've seen, and there have been a lot of them.

Four and a half out of five.

the real Hannibal Lecter

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 26 April 2016]

It's 1982 Washington State. A woman's body is pulled from the Green River. Dave Reichert (Sam Jaeger) from the King County sheriff's department seeks the help of Ted Bundy (Cary Elwes) expert Robert Keppel (Bruce Greenwood). Keppel was a new detective as the Bundy case unfolded and was part of the Bundy task force. Bundy contacts Keppel and the duo goes to Florida to visit him in prison.

This is part of the inspiration for The Silence of the Lambs. It's noticeable but it doesn't dwell on it. Bruce Greenwood holds this together. It's rather basic TV movie stylistically. Cary Elwes is a pretty looking killer. He has a different type of power. One wonders why a seemingly nice looking guy kills. He has a believable charm that can pull others in and that is his danger. I would love to had these two actors be directed by someone better in a cinematic theatrical release.

Bundy Behind Bars

[SteveResin · 7/10 · 8 September 2018]

This is a decent film for anyone interested in Ted Bundy and his crimes and psyche. A few reviewers here and I imagine some viewers seem to be disappointed that the film doesn't focus more on The Green River Killer, Gary Ridgeway, but he's not meant to be the focal point of this movie or indeed of the investigation carried out in this film. Robert Keppel, FBI profiler and former Washington police detective sees an opportunity to enlist Bundy's help in profiling Ridgway so he can eventually get Bundy to confess to 8 unsolved murders that took place in Seattle during his time there as a detective.

The good - When the film concentrates on the conversations between Keppel and Bundy it's engrossing. Bruce Greenwood is excellent here, but is outshone by Cary Elwes as Bundy. His Bundy covers the whole range of Ted's personality, or at least what we know of it. He's charming, intelligent, polite, arrogant, provocative and sinister. Elwes covers all of these traits effortlessly. It really is a fantastic performance. All the scenes with these two interacting are fascinating.

The bad - The rest of the film, sadly. There's an unnecessary story-line that is better suited to a soap opera, with Keppel's wife fretting that her husband will lose himself (rolls eyes) by involving himself in serial murder crimes again. Each time these scenes appear you're just willing them to finish and for her to go away so her husband can get on with his job. Why they feel they always have to include these soapy elements to serial killer films is beyond me. There's also an annoying sidekick character who works with Keppel, and although he's a seasoned officer of the law who by his own admission took 8 years to get his "gold badge" keeps making rash and stupid decisions and reactions purely for the sake of the plot. For example upon meeting Bundy for the first time instead of allowing Ted his hubris so they can slowly drip information from him instead he reacts to Bundy's mild ribbing and loses it totally, even rising to physically attack Bundy. This is nonsense and unnecessary, there's already enough drama going on in the scene without this hokum. Thankfully he disappears from the midway point and is only seen briefly at the end.

7/10

Bit of a waste...

[vetle_svalastog · 6/10 · 5 May 2019]

Subpar directing and writing limit good actors, interesting stories and complex characters.

Thats whats happened here. No much more to say about it.

Picture; Red Dragon, based on real events, but worse.

Not too bad, though not all that intense

[siglo_xx · 5/10 · 8 September 2004]

This was decent, though not all that great. I thought some of the acting was good, by Greenwood and Elwes. The cinematography was well done. Conceptually the story was decent, but not all that intense. You learn some new things about Bundy, if you're interested in the serial killer (which seems to be primarily an American phenomenon).

I thought the story was a bit disjointed though. You go from the introduction of the kilings, to Greenwood, the ex-detective/ cop, to Bundy; but there's this Green River Killer, whom, to me, was sort of left in the background, with Bundy apparently attempting to assist in the investigation.

I thought the story was more telling of how many additional people Bundy killed, or what his thoughts and background was, rather than concentrating on the Green River Killer.

Yes, they reveal, briefly, in the end, who The Green River Killer is, and how many he killed, etc., but it didn't do all that much for me. I thought there'd be some real connection there other than people or serial killers and 'going inside the mind of a killer'.

I'd almost have rather they left the entire Bundy thing out of it, or at least not concentrated on it so much. It's an interesting point of view, but I believe they relied too heavily on it. I'd have rather seen more about the actual serial killer and his story, perhaps with an additional half hour of material (but this is a TV movie, hard to do with all those commercials).

I'm fascinated by serial killers in general, not sure why exactly. Just find the American thing interesting (not that they don't exist elsewhere, but the fact that our media covers them so widely, it's like they become movie-stars, and famous for 15 minutes, just as Warhol predicted; how our pop society seems to want fame over anything else). I find that sickening personally. Therein I guess lies the fascination, odd as it may seem.

I only partially enjoyed this film. Some good talent, reasonably well done, but a bit lacking in intensity I think. I didn't really feel all that creeped out by it, as others may have suggested. Intriguing but not intense.

I gave it a 5/10. Almost deserves a 6/10, which seems to be the average so far.

The less than equivalent version of "Silence of the Lambs"and "the Cell" to name a few

[jordondave-28085 · 4/10 · 17 August 2023]

(2004) The Riverman HORROR

Made for TV and adapted from the book "The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt for the Green River Killer" by Robert D. Keppel Ph. D. and William J. Birnes, based on the investigations regarding the Green River Killings that occurred somewhere in Seattle, with the central theme of Ted Bundy ((Cary Elwes) assisting ex-police officer turn teacher, Dave Reichert (Sam Jaeger) who used to be assigned to the case.. It is also a low budget carbon copy of much bigger budgeted serial killing movies particularly "Silence Of The Lambs", "Solace", "The Cell" and "La Mante" to name a few.

Surprisingly chilling performance from Elwes as Bundy...

[WitheringSage · 9/10 · 7 September 2004]

I didn't know what to expect when I began watching this movie. I was immediately intrigued once it began going, however. This is the true story of how Ted Bundy (Cary Elwes) actually helped to find the Green River Killer back in the early 80's in his attempts to get a lighter sentence and avoid the death penalty. Although this movie is not about Ted Bundy it does go into his crimes a little bit and you get to know a little bit more about Bundy's twisted psyche. The performances were great, but the one that stands out is Elwes portrayal of the serial killer Ted Bundy. I didn't know if he could pull it off, but he did an excellent job and was very believable and his performance was chilling. I give this movie a 9/10.

Superb acting by Cary Elwes and Bruce Greenwood

[skyprice · 10/10 · 2 September 2005]

I just saw this on TV from about the halfway point only, but was familiar with the plot from my reading. I'm anxious to see it again. I thought Cary Elwes BECAME Ted Bundy in a way that was eerie and absolutely impressive. Bruce Greenwood had a part that could have been mundane, but his tremendous depth as an actor turned it into a disturbing and memorable role. And I thought their joint scenes were .. well, completely intense -- contrary to the lead-in review from IMDb. Greenwood has always been one of my favorites, but I found Elwes a bit more of a surprise. Would recommend this to acting classes everywhere and to anyone who can withstand an in-depth look at psyches that are way outside normal boundaries.

A frightening look into the mind of a monster...

[td_gwendy · 9/10 · 18 October 2012]

I've seen a couple of Ted Bundy movies and they were more of a slasher horror fest based on real events. Although The Riverman is also based on real events, and in particular the book authored by Robert "Bob" Keppel (played by Bruce Greenwood in the movie), this made-for-TV movie to me felt a lot creepier than the other two Bundy films I had mentioned.

Now before you go running off to the DVD store, you have to know that this is no slasher flick. This movie is scary for its psychological insights into the mind of a monster, particularly that of Ted Bundy. What's even scarier is how well Cary Elwes plays the role of Bundy, from his gestures, his voice, and most especially his eyes. It is perhaps one, or could be Elwes's best performance yet, albeit not quite recognized.

Though a made for TV movie, it felt more like a silver screen feature. The acting never feels forced, the pacing satisfactory, and the script very intense especially towards the film's conclusion. There may be an amateurish feel towards the cinematography, but over all, a very good, chilling film.

It's a fascinating look at Bundy & Ridgway

[Sylviastel · 9/10 · 13 September 2004]

I had just bought the book, The Riverman, in Ketchikan, Alaska. I was on vacation and I bought it at a drugstore. It is perhaps one of the best books ever written about Bundy. Keppel does not leave anything out regarding Bundy or Ridgway in the book but the film version is conduced to keeping the important facts and information. Those pictures of Bundy's murder victims are real authentic. What other films about Bundy fail to express is what he did with the bodies of his murdered victims afterwards. In order to catch the Green River Killer, he had to befriend Ted Bundy, played admirably by Cary Elwes. He does such an excellent job that it's frightening and often chilling. Cary Elwes is the best Bundy I have ever seen in television movies. He even brings out a sympathetic side to his human monster never before. No, this movie is not for children or squeamish adults. If the viewers watch without much information, they may not be able to grasp the horror of both the Green River and Bundy's legacies. But watch how Bundy uses his knowledge to try to solve one of the world's biggest mysteries. While Bundy did not live long enough to see the Riverman's capture, he died a complete coward and confessed to all his crimes with hopes of saving his own life.

Excellent True Crime TV Movie

[Alex-372 · 8/10 · 18 September 2005]

Riverman is a pretty good made for TV movie. Many movies based on books are of a better quality, because the screenplay has a lot more to work with.

Riverman was written by Robert Keppel, and published long before Gary Leon Ridgway was caught for the Green River serial murders.

The book is based around Keppel's interviews with another serial killer, Ted Bundy, who also committed many of his murders in Washington State. The idea of a profiler going out and interviewing a (famous) serial killer was also the basis for the movie Silence Of The Lambs, with Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins.

Where the movie is very good, is in showing the internal world of so many serial killers - the sociopath's inability to feel emotion except under extreme circumstances, the childhood abuse, etc. What it only slightly touches upon is the fact that for Ted Bundy, killing was only a means to an end. He was a necrophiliac who enjoyed the corpses more than the live persons, and God knows whatever other psychotic factors were in play as well. It remains a mystery why he kept the skulls - sex? Did they talk to him? These issues are brought up in a rather rushed manner, compared to the book. But that is only a minor quibble, and perhaps inevitable in a made for TV movie.

The irony is that Robert Keppel was only marginally involved in actually catching either Bundy or Ridgway. Bundy was caught because of a traffic violation, and Keppel wasn't even involved at all in Ridgway's apprehension in late November 2001.

I would like to add that the movie also accurately shows that these individuals are rather pathetic geeks once apprehended. They prey on the most vulnerable people in society, and often only then during their most vulnerable moments. They abuse the general trust people and societies need to operate. In short, anyone can sneak up on someone and hit them over the head. It is also why female serial killers almost exclusively target the very old and the very young, and very often use poison. They only very rarely kill adult men by violent means (Aileen Wuornos is the exception).

This is a very good true crime movie, however as a movie, it has some problems.

Excellent portrayal of Bundy

[paulinelongford · 10/10 · 4 September 2018]

Strong performances by all Elwes exceptional performance as Ted Bundy great tv movie that deserves more credit that what it has received I thoroughly recommend viewing and you will probably want to watch it again

Well Done Film

[mattyboombattie74 · 7 September 2004]

I watched this last night on A&E. A well-done film that stays true to the book that it was based on. Elwes's portrayal of Bundy was chilling to watch, as I remember vividly the interviews with the real Ted.

I was disappointed with the ending though, how it did not focus on Gary Ridgeway (The Green River Killer) more deeply. The film showed Bundy as nothing more than a narcissistic "entity", when his problems and motivations ran much deeper than narcissism.

The film also failed to mention that Ridgeway was spared the Death Penalty for the GR murders on the condition that he would help locate the remains of other missing women in the area. Perhaps more of Bundy's victims' families would be able to enjoy this sense of closure had Florida kept him alive in isolation rather than sending him to the electric chair. Keeping a man like Bundy alive, yet alone, is a worse punishment than death.

Overall, a well done movie. 4 out of 5 stars.

In a word: creepy.

[Hey_Sweden · 8/10 · 23 November 2021]

'The Riverman' tells the story of the infamous serial killer Ted Bundy (played here by Cary Elwes), on death row for his crimes. He reaches out to criminal profiler Bob Keppel (Bruce Greenwood) to tell him that he may have insight into the series of "Green River" killings that were plaguing Seattle. Sometimes working the case with a stressed-out detective (Sam Jaeger), Keppel sits down with Bundy for a series of interviews.

Stories like 'The Riverman' (based on a non-fiction book co-authored by Keppel) aren't for everybody, since they make us get to know sick minds better than most of us would really want to. But, on that level, it can be fascinating, as we learn from both Keppel and Bundy some ideas about those deviants walking among us: how they select victims, their ways of justifying their actions, etc. This being a made-for-TV movie, it refrains from showing much of the graphic violence that turns off some viewers. But, as directed by Bill Eagles, this solid film is a good case study in both pervasive atmosphere and subtlety. Characters like the real-life Keppel are now familiar to any viewer who's watched their fair share of yarns about serial killers: they become haunted individuals. Indeed, we get a sense of the toll that Keppels' line of work has taken on his home life.

The wonderful Kathleen Quinlan is typically great in support, even if she's obliged to play a kind of standard-issue "concerned spouse / partner" type of character. Jaeger is okay, but he's outshone by the more interesting Greenwood and especially the riveting Elwes, who's rarely been as good as he is here. The face-offs / conversations between Bundy and Keppel provide an effective foundation on which to build this picture. Also good in a supporting role is David Lawrence Brown; he plays the off-putting Gary Ridgway, the man who would be identified as the Green River killer decades later (thanks to improved forensic technology).

This is definitely the kind of movie that stays with you after it's over.

Filmed in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Eight out of 10.

Great Film about the Mentally ILL !

[whpratt1 · 10/10 · 15 September 2004]

It seems that more and more we see and hear about people who act like Ted Bundy, who are serial killers and others who murder their wives and children. Bruce Greenwood,(Robert Keppel),"The Republic of Love",'03, gave an outstanding performance having to deal with Ted Bundy and making the audience even think at times that he was going to follow down the same path as BUNDY himself! Kathleen Quinlan,(Sande Keppel),"Blessings TV,"'03, was the wife of Robert Keppel who was going crazy with the effects that Ted Bundy was making on her husband's personality, as well as his children. This film is morbid and difficult to view, especially with the horrible torture of his victims and the needless waste of human LIFE!