Parents guide

Implied

There were two versions of 'The Killer's Alphabet' that were released. The original, uncensored cut features a gruesome letter from the killer, wherein he threatens to sexually abuse the man before killing him, makes explicit sexual comments, including spelling the Word "coming" in its sexual context. The killer says he will give the man an erection and then cut off his penis. This scene was completely removed in the censored re-release and is very disturbing.

The Typographist analyses the killer's letter and speculates that he may be homosexual, and comments about the killer's "violent sexual fantasies."

*SPOILERS*

A few scenes after the killer's letter arrives, he contacts the Typographist and tells him to meet him at a park. The Typographist goes to the park, but the killer never shows up. During the scene, Vera Lynn's "As Time Goes By" is played for sexual irony, featuring romantic lyrics "Man must have his mate, a kiss is still a kiss," that are subtly linked to the killer and the Typographist's twisted relationship.

The Typographist is shown in the shower, no sensitive parts shown. During the same scene, he is shown in the mirror, his private parts obscured by fog. There is a very brief glimpse of the front of his waist, but all sensitive parts are obscured.

The killer's violent and possibly homoerotic attraction to the Typographist is implied throughout.

Implied and Shown

All of the Killer's letters are both explicitly and implicitly violent. In the first one, he threatens to cut the Typographist in pieces, "smallest parts first." In the second, he threatens to take a stick, sharpen it, and "shove it down your throat until you choke or bleed out. In the third, he sexually threatens to castrate the man (aforementioned in Sex & Nudity.) In the fourth letter, there are subtle threats. In the fifth, the killer says of the man, "I wonder what your scream sounds like?" In the sixth and penultimate letter, he threatens to "try new things" on the Typographist if he calls the police.

*SPOILERS*

The Typographist commits suicide. He graphically sticks a gun in his mouth and pulls the trigger, the camera cuts away.

The final letter from the Killer features a threat to shoot the man in the head.

Explicit

"D--k," "c--k," "b--ch" in the Killer's letters. The Typographist can be seen to mutter certain explitives, such as "b--ch."

The Typographist is shown drinking some form of alcohol. Later, he is shown drinking it again and getting extremely intoxicated.

Disturbing

The Typographist is shown tearing up and eating a photograph in his maddened state. The scene is prolonged and disturbing.

Many other scenes, fueled by the aforementioned graphic content, are extremely disturbing and frightening. Not for kids.