EXTREMELY WICKED, SHOCKINGLY EVIL AND VILE
US, 2019, 110 minutes, Colour.
Zac Efron, Lily Collins, Kaya Scodelario, John Malkovich, Haley Joel Osment, Jeffrey Donovan, Terry Kinney, Jim Parsons.
Directed by Joe Berlinger.
The title is certainly arresting. It looks and sounds like something that a press agent would concoct to attract an audience which may be looking for something sensational, or sensationalist. In fact, it is part of the speech by the presiding judge in his sentencing mass murderer, Ted Bundy, to the electric chair.
Ted Bundy has emerged as one of America’s most savage killers. He began his violence during the 1960s and this continued during the 1970s. He was executed in January 1989.
While the theme of the film is somewhat sensationalist, the treatment is much more measured. The screenplay is based on a memoir by Bundy’s girlfriend, Liz Kendall, who could not believe that Bundy could wreak so much violence, was in denial about what he did – although, she felt guilty over many years because of the fact that seeing an artist’s sketch of a man allegedly attacking women and its reminding her of him, gave his name to the police.
The audience knows right at the opening of the film that Bundy is in prison. Liz visits him – and, as we finally see, this is her final visit to him to ask him to confess.
Which means then that characters and events are seen in flashback. From the outset, we see, as Liz does, that Bundy is a man of great personal charm, with the ability to sweep women off their feet, his knowing the right things to say, the right things to do. He wins Liz over instantly, accepting the fact that she is a single mother, acting in a fatherly way to her young daughter, a match seemingly made in heaven. The screenplay is prudent and not revealing so much detail, let alone visualising the crimes, until an hour of the film has passed. In fact, those seeking sensationalism, will be quite disappointed as any graphic images of violence are kept until the end.
Although we know that Bundy gets into trouble with the police, being pulled over for traffic problems, on the police radar, moving around from Utah to Colorado and to the north-west, we tend to see him from Liz’s point of view. He is studying law – which means then that is quite knowledgeable, can defend himself (and often does), can pick up nuances in the law and get himself out of trouble. But, increasingly, he does not get himself out of trouble, is imprisoned, studies for his defence, opportunities to escape from prison, and he does.
As we realise by his final confession, he is in complete self-denial, a different image of himself, protesting that the court and media images of the killer is the complete opposite of himself.
Over the years, Liz finds his contacts and calls too much to bear. She is visited by various detectives and police officials from the different states. In the meantime, an earlier friend of Bundy’s, Carole Anne Boone (Kaya Scodelario) believes in him utterly, even his pulling a stunt during his final trial in proposing to her as she is in the witness box, legally marrying her like this according to Florida law.
Much of the transcript of his final trial is incorporated into the screenplay here. John Malkovich is the judge, an intriguing performance, giving Bundy enough rope to… Then turning the tables on him. His final address to Bundy, summarising his personality and his performance while telling him to take care, also announces that he is extremely wicked, shockingly evil, vile.
His trials tend to be media circuses, television being allowed into film the final trial. And, there is the extraordinary response of women who come to the trial, give interviews about how attractive he is, some saying they are in love with him.
The director is Joe Berlinger, a veteran of many years documentary filmmaking and television making, who has also produced a television series on Bundy.
However, much of the success of the film lies with Zac Efron, quite a long way from his enthusiastic youngster in the High School Musical series. At first, it is difficult to recognise Zac Efron with his different hairstyle, sometimes moustache, sometimes beard. Which means then that he has created a character independent of his past screen image. He knows how to exude charm. He certainly knows how to dramatise a kind of self-pitying proclaiming of innocence. We see him as two-timing but, only at the end, his brutality. We still wonder about his psychopathic mental condition.
During the final credits there are sequences showing the central characters, Liz and Carole Anne Boone, detectives and the actual judge himself.
And, starkly in black-and-white, an overwhelming list of the women who were his victims.
1. The title? The final judgement on Ted Bundy by the presiding judge?
2. Ted Bundy and his reputation, serial killer of the 1970s into the 1980s? His crimes? His appearance, charm? His denials? As a young lawyer, his self-defence?
3. Audiences knowing the facts about his case? This film’s director and his four-part documentary series with interviews? The portrait of Bundy himself, the role of the police and the detectives, his being under suspicion, his studying the law, his exercising the law, his performances in court, imprisonment, his self-vindication during the 1980s? His execution?
4. Zac Efron cast as Ted Bundy, his appearance, impersonation, communicating the character of Bundy to a puzzled audience?
5. The audience knowing that Bundy was guilty, learning about him, puzzled by him, the filmmaking, his character and behaviour more comprehensible?
6. Liz, her final visit, wanting him to confess? The reprise of this visit at the end? Liz and her relationship with Bundy in the flashbacks, Liz a character in herself, her daughter, the diner, his charm at the bar, the dance, attractive? The relationship? Her belief in him? His role in the house, father, with the daughter? Liz and her work, the range of friends, their being more suspicious initially than she? Her defending him? His first being under suspicion, the missing girls? The sketch and description, the later revelation that she had informed the police about him? His continued reassurance, re-appearances? Their not marrying? Her growing more disillusioned, his being in the court in prison, the phone calls, the keeping a distance, the friendship and support of Jerry? Her eventually cutting him off? Presence in the court? Going to visit him, asking him to confess?
7. Bundy, his background, the later scene of his mother in court? His studies, on the campus, the law? His study, his personal vanity and charm? Travel, being the locations of the crimes?
8. The reports of girls missing, increasing number of deaths, the public apprehensive? His connection with the various places, his car, held up by the police and his plausible alibi? His always being plausible?
9. The detectives, the visits and interviews, the police? Local, interstate, the discussions about him? Media reports about the deaths? His being arrested, charged, in court, the lawyers, his behaviour, excuses? Being released?
10. Mary Kay Boone, the friendship in the past, coming to the court, continued support, devotion, in love with him, her being willing to be a witness, his exploitation of her, sexually, the proposal in the court, her pregnancy?
11. The range of charges, Bundy and his successful warding them off? The accumulation of evidence, the range of lawyers, his own belief in his skills, grandstanding?
12. The final arrest, the police and the detectives, the enquiry, the evidence?
13. In court, the personality of the judge and his presiding, his attitudes, allowing the media in? Bundy capitalising on the situation? Performance, finance? The judge giving him
enough rope – but reining him in, the judge’s reactions? The jury, the decisions, his being guilty? The judge delivering his judgements and a certain concern about Bundy as a person?
14. Liz and her visit? Admitting the truth? The background of the director and his making the documentary portrait of Bundy, life, studies, reserve, with women, anger unleashed? His execution?
15. The rise of serial killers in the United States, the 60s and 70s? The place of Bundy within this killers’ gallery?
