Ted 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:

serial killer | execution | electric chair | escape | female hitchhiker | 

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Taglines:

Based on the true story of America's most infamous serial sex killer.

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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, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$6,073, 22 September 2002

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

Cameron Bright was offered a role but he and his mother did not want him to be associated with a serial killer.

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Goofs

Ted is having sex with Lee tied up, as he is performing and the camera pulls back, Lee's underwear is visible.

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Quotes

Lee: [Ted calls his girlfriend from a payphone; it rings and she is seen waking up answering her phone] This better be good, Ted!
Ted Bundy: [on the phone] I just need to hear your voice...
Lee: It's four in the morning...
Ted Bundy: I know, Lee. I've hit the books so hard, I've lost track of time.
Lee: I've haven't heard from you in nearly a week!
Ted Bundy: I've been studying. I'm sorry...
Lee: Yes, I know you've been studying!
[pause]
Lee: I just hate the way you make me feel sometimes!

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Connections

Version of The Deliberate Stranger (1986)

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Soundtracks

Martha's Street
by Dominic Glynn (uncredited) and Martin Smith (uncredited)
Published by Chappell Recorded Music Library

User Reviews

Good picture of Bundy's monster nature

I rented this because I expected it to be intense, having seen Matthew Bright's work in "Freeway". It's definitely that. It's hard not to compare it to "The Deliberate Stranger": each focuses on a different aspect of Bundy's story. "Stranger" focused more on the investigation and the actual facts, and Mark Harmon's performance captured the smoothness and charm which enabled Bundy to gain his victims' trust. This movie is all about the animal beneath. In reality, Bundy's ability to keep that beast hidden was part of what enabled him to carry on as long as he did. This film lays bare that monster, and shows it in all its ugliness. I'm seeing a lot of criticism of this movie for being good at what it set out to do: to make you share in the revulsion of what Ted Bundy was. Complaining that it's in bad taste? What does 'taste' have to do with a sadistic animal who snuffed out dozens of young womens' lives, just to fulfill his need to feel powerful? In this respect, this movie is superior to "Stranger": that one is much too tame and sanitized. What kind of hypocrite watches a movie about a serial killer, and complains that it's too lurid? While "Stranger" is more successful as a factual and interesting telling of Bundy's story, this is a much more impactful movie that makes you feel as though you're actually in the room with that demon. Only 15 minutes into the movie, I felt filthy just from watching his odious behavior. Bright's purpose here was not so much to make a biography as it was to use Bundy's story to point out something fundamental about human nature: the desire for control, and how it drives us to harm each other. While not as good as Bright's earlier "Freeway", it's still a good, disturbing movie, much in the brutal vein of "Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer". It's actually much more violent - especially sexually - than the latter, though not as gruesome.