Zac Efron's new Ted Bundy movie is anything but average
Besides Efron breaking out of his romcom rut, the film offers something different from the average serial-killer movie
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile released at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2019. PHOTO: SCREENSHOT
In the upcoming film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, Zac Efron plays Ted Bundy, a man whose uncanny charm and charisma was only outmatched by the heinous and horrific crimes he committed.
Bundy was an American serial killer who murdered over 30 women between 1974 and 1978 and was consequently put on trial. Yet when he was charged, many failed to believe that such a handsome and charming man could in fact be a murderous psychopath.
What followed was a media circus and a highly publicised trial that turned Bundy into a literal celebrity with a deluge of female fans.
The film, which chronicles everything from Bundy’s heinous crimes to his trial, is told from the viewpoint of his girlfriend Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Kloepfer, played here by Lily Collins, who for years refused to believe that her boyfriend was guilty.
The first trailer that was released recently focuses specifically on the relationship between Liz and Bundy, and how Bundy’s behaviour around her and her daughter kept her in the dark about his true motivations.
The trailer also focuses on the media circus surrounding the trial and the manner in which Bundy deceived almost everyone into thinking he was falsely accused. What specifically stands out in the trailer is the upbeat tone that runs throughout. This is certainly another way of looking at the story of one of America’s most notorious serial killers, but is definitely in line with the cult status Bundy received primarily because of the media.
Judging by the trailer, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile certainly seems like an engrossing experience. Besides the obvious selling point of seeing Efron break out of his rom-com rut and sink his teeth into a role he might be well-equipped to pull off, the film also seems to offer something very different from the average serial killer movie, which is usually much darker in tone.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the trailer is what seems to be a contrast between Bundy’s charismatic public persona and his murderous, psychopathic tendencies – something that seems to be central to the film and will likely make for a very compelling exploration.
The film is directed by Joe Berlinger who only recently directed the documentary Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes for Netflix. Further, besides Efron and Collins, the film also features a strong cast comprising of John Malkovich, Jim Parsons, Haley Joel Osment, Kaya Scodelario and Metallica front-man James Hetfield.
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile released at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2019.
Bundy was an American serial killer who murdered over 30 women between 1974 and 1978 and was consequently put on trial. Yet when he was charged, many failed to believe that such a handsome and charming man could in fact be a murderous psychopath.
What followed was a media circus and a highly publicised trial that turned Bundy into a literal celebrity with a deluge of female fans.
The film, which chronicles everything from Bundy’s heinous crimes to his trial, is told from the viewpoint of his girlfriend Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Kloepfer, played here by Lily Collins, who for years refused to believe that her boyfriend was guilty.
The first trailer that was released recently focuses specifically on the relationship between Liz and Bundy, and how Bundy’s behaviour around her and her daughter kept her in the dark about his true motivations.
The trailer also focuses on the media circus surrounding the trial and the manner in which Bundy deceived almost everyone into thinking he was falsely accused. What specifically stands out in the trailer is the upbeat tone that runs throughout. This is certainly another way of looking at the story of one of America’s most notorious serial killers, but is definitely in line with the cult status Bundy received primarily because of the media.
Judging by the trailer, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile certainly seems like an engrossing experience. Besides the obvious selling point of seeing Efron break out of his rom-com rut and sink his teeth into a role he might be well-equipped to pull off, the film also seems to offer something very different from the average serial killer movie, which is usually much darker in tone.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the trailer is what seems to be a contrast between Bundy’s charismatic public persona and his murderous, psychopathic tendencies – something that seems to be central to the film and will likely make for a very compelling exploration.
The film is directed by Joe Berlinger who only recently directed the documentary Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes for Netflix. Further, besides Efron and Collins, the film also features a strong cast comprising of John Malkovich, Jim Parsons, Haley Joel Osment, Kaya Scodelario and Metallica front-man James Hetfield.
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile released at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2019.