Director Joe Berlinger’s film, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, provides an accurate portrayal of Ted Bundy’s life, capturing the mysterytic killer’s story with historical accuracy. The film, starring Zac Efron as Bundy, is based on the book The Phantom Prince: My Life with Ted Bundy by Elizabeth Kendall, Bundy’s longtime girlfriend. Berlinger, known for his true-crime projects, aimed to ensure historical accuracy, stating, “This is not a documentary, obviously. But the historical beats of Ted Bundy are very accurate in the movie.”
The film opens with Bundy’s meeting with Elizabeth in a Seattle bar, showcasing the chemistry between the two as they begin dating. Although it takes creative liberties with the timeline, the film effectively portrays Bundy’s charm and charisma, as well as his hidden dark side. In real life, Elizabeth started connecting dots about Bundy’s guilt much earlier than depicted in the film, but Berlinger’s focus on the relationship between Bundy and Elizabeth aims to make the audience invest in their connection, only to feel disgust and shock when the truth is finally revealed.
A Still From Joe Berlinger’s film Extremely Wicked (Photo: Extremely Wicked)
The film also accurately depicts Bundy’s escapes, his assistance in his own defense, and the media circus surrounding his trial. Bundy did escape custody twice, assisted in his own defense, and sabotaged his defense at times. The film also shows Bundy’s proposal to Carol Anne Boone, which was legally binding, and his bid to plead guilty to three Florida slayings, which he ultimately backed out of.
However, the film takes two major creative liberties with real events. The first is the portrayal of Bundy’s relationship with Elizabeth, which is condensed and dramatized. The second is the ending, where Elizabeth visits Bundy on Death Row and demands to know about a victim’s decapitation. In reality, Bundy only hinted at his guilt in his final phone conversation with Elizabeth.
Efron’s performance as Bundy is notable for capturing the killer’s charisma and charm, and Berlinger’s direction masterfully keeps a lid on the monstrous side of Bundy, only sparingly revealing the horror beneath. The film provides an unsettling feeling, capturing the public’s fascination with Bundy and the media circus surrounding him. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile is available to watch on Netflix in the U.S.
