BUNDY
US, 2008, 98 minutes, Colour.
Corin Nemec.
Directed by Michael Feifer.
There have been a number of films about Theodore Bundy, the serial killer.
Films for television as well as news footage and documentaries and a feature film starring Mark Harmon for television. A film for cinemas was directed by Matthew Bright with Michael Riley Burke as Bundy.
The question is whether the audiences worldwide need another film about Ted Bundy. The film offers a lot of facts, images of his behaviour. He is presented as a monster. However, the film is fairly straightforward in its presentation, starting with his imprisonment and execution, the flashbacks to his childhood with his oppressive alcoholic father, his propensity for anger and violence, his courting of Stephanie and the break-off when she told him he was immature, his revenge on her. The film also shows collages of his crime activity throughout the United States. He decides to defend himself in court, makes a fool of himself and is convicted. There are some scenes of his going to execution.
Corin Nemec combines the charm as well as the petulant angry manner of Bundy.
The film is not prurient in its presentation of Bundy or the crimes – although this kind of portrait of a serial killer excites the prurience in audiences. The question is whether it offers insight as well.
1.The facts of Ted Bundy’s behaviour, serial killing, prison, court, execution? A 20th century American monster?
2.The television and news programs from the past, the films about him, audience knowledge of him? Attitudes towards him?
3.The title of the film, the subtitle of The Legacy of Evil? The framework of prison, the flashbacks?
4.The portrait of Bundy as a character, portrayal of his behaviour? Issues of motivation?
5.The film as a study of his motivation, the scenes with him as a child, hearing his father and his alcoholic outbursts, his sister? Alone? With the comics, drawing, the black crayon and his anger? The father and his behaviour, his sister bringing him up? Growing up, his blaming others and not himself? Attitude towards women? Women as a threat? His insulting them, brutality and savagery?
6.A student, university, the friendship with Stephanie, in love, his charm, going out, the sexual relationship, time passing, his standing up her parents for the meal, his excuses? Stephanie’s upset, her condemning him for not growing up? His leaving? The later encounter with Stephanie, the politics, his success, the apology? The restaurant, the joy, speaking to the clientele, on his knees, the proposal, the ring – and then his abandoning her? Petty and vengeful?
7.The scenes of violence, assaulting the women, the collage of the number of women he attacked, over time?
8.Politics, the discussions about Republicans and Democrats? His charm, ideas at the meetings? His being sent out to campaign?
9.His being stopped by the police, the car, suspicions, the boot and the contents, his arrest, the escape from jail?
10.The dormitory, entry, killing the two women? The details left for the flashbacks during the court scene?
11.His arrest, in prison, the attitude of the warden, their discussions?
12.In court, his own defence, the attitude of the judge, the prosecutors? Interrogating the police officer, the detailed questions, wanting the details – and the visual flashbacks?
13.His being found guilty, the warden, wanting information for the families of the victims?
14.Preparing for death, his head shaven, his being fearful, dead?
15.The value of this kind of film, portrait of a serial killer?
