Bundy (2002)

The story of serial killer Ted Bundy.

Director:

Matthew Bright

Writers:

Stephen Johnston, Matthew Bright

Stars:

Michael Reilly Burke, Boti Bliss, Julianna McCarthy

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Reilly Burke	...	Ted Bundy
Boti Bliss	...	Lee (as Boti Ann Bliss)
Julianna McCarthy	...	Professor
Jennifer Tisdale	...	Pretty Girl
Michael Santos	...	Man at the Window
Annalee Autumn	...	Girl Attacked on Street (as Anna Lee Wooster)
Steffani Brass	...	Julie
Samantha Tabak	...	Vincennes (as Tricia Dickson)
Meadow Sisto	...	Welch
Eric DaRe	...	Male Partygoer (as Eric Dare)
Melissa Schmidt	...	Female Partygoer
Deborah Offner	...	Beverly
Zarah Little	...	Garber
Alison West	...	Randall
Matt Hoffman	...	Arnie

Storyline

Docu-drama based on the life of Ted Bundy, a serial killer who killed at least 19 young women during the 1970's (though some sources say as many as 30 to 35 were murdered). Set from his college student years, to his first victims, his capture, escape from prison (twice), his final killing spree to his trial, conviction and execution.

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Plot Keywords:

voyeur | psychopathic killer | misogyny | psychopath | serial killer | 

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Taglines:

Not every serial killer fits the profile.

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence involving a sexual predator/serial killer, sexuality/nudity and language

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 November 2002 (UK)

Also Known As:

Bundy

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles City College - 855 North Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,710, 15 September 2002

Gross USA:

$6,073

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$68,716

Company Credits

Production Co:

First Look International, Incessant Barking Productions Inc., Tartan Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The names of the victims in the cast of characters are fictional and not the names of the actual victims of Ted Bundy.

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Goofs

When Ted is in the bar the music playing as if from the future. Break beats and "acid" sound are from mid 90's, but everything is happening in mid 70's.

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Quotes

Lee: [after Ted pushes her in the lake from the dock] What the hell?
[pause]
Lee: ASSHOLE!
[Ted walks away]

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Connections

Version of Bundy

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Soundtracks

Jingle Bells
(uncredited)
Written by James Pierpont

User Reviews

Brutal movie about a brutal man

This movie is not for the faint-of-heart; it's a story about a vicious serial killer, and does not pretty up the subject matter. Thus there are numerous scenes of bloody and perverse sex, dead bodies galore, lots of profanity, and an overall atmosphere of sickness. None of this is pleasant to watch, but is entirely appropriate for the subject matter.

The script stays close to fact, although it leaves out some important information; neglecting, for example, to mention that one woman Bundy approached at Lake Sammamish refused to follow him into the parking lot. Her evidence provided a description and a name to a previously faceless monster, the first real lead the police had in the case. The movie also fails to give any real sense of the era in which Bundy flourished. In the swinging seventies, it was not so uncommon for women to get into cars or otherwise accept approaches from total strangers -- one reason for Bundy's success.

This film suffers from a lack of focus and purpose. It does give a good sense of the progression of Bundy's hideous career: the burglarizing, purse-snatching, shoplifting peeping tom gradually deteriorates into the brutal, raping, murdering serial killer. We see his alcoholism, his ability to be totally charming when necessary, and his knack for attracting "enabling" girlfriends into his life. What we don't see is anything of the inner Bundy. Granted, any depiction of the "inner Bundy" would be pure speculation, but a good movie would at least make an attempt to give some motive for Bundy's violent compulsions. All this movie does is make some vague references to his illegitimacy.

I need to also mention the incredibly poor taste in background music. In some sequences, light-hearted music is playing while Bundy is committing heinous acts of violence. (Christmas music in one case!) Perhaps the director meant to indicate that all this horror was just plain fun to Bundy; but the effect is to cheapen the scenes and even make them comic.

The verdict: Iffy. Lacks depth, and occasionly shows poor taste. Leaves out important information. On the plus side, it is well-acted, and does not attempt to sugar coat the ugly facts of violence. If you want a thoughtful examination of Bundy's character and the era in which he lived, this is not the right movie.