Netflix’s Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, which stars Zac Efron as Ted Bundy, released today and I have your movie review!
A new Netflix original movie starring Zac Efron as Tendy Bundy called Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile released today! The docudrama received rave reviews at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and with the success of Netflix original movies as of late, projections this film will live up to the expectations were very high. Despite the amazing performance by Zac Efron, the movie itself did nothing for me. Check out my video review below.
Not Extremely Wicked At All
I understand the movie was adapted from the autobiography The Phantom Prince: My Life with Ted Bundy, Extremely Wicked which gives a glimpse of Ted Bundy through the eyes of his long time girlfriend Elizabeth Kloepfer (Lily Collins) but I found it to overlooked the “evilness” that is Bundy which draws viewers in. The movie begins with the meeting of Ted and Elizabeth in a local college bar and shows how Ted swept her off her feet, even stepping into the father figure role for her daughter. I get that showing this “normal and soft” side of Ted Bundy makes it more impactful when he is arrested and on trial for the murders of many women but I felt the title to be misled because we never see a glimpse of Bundy’s “wicked” side.
Zac Efron As Ted Bundy
Recently Zac Efron revealed while diving into the role of Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, he “almost had a mental breakdown.” Efron not only eerily looks the part of Ted Bundy but he does a terrific job in the film. Efron exudes Bundy’s likability and charm while never glorifying him, which is a narrow narrow path to balance the two. And while the audience is shown Bundys charming side, we are always well aware Bundy is putting up a fake facade. While the film fell flat for me, both Efron and Lily Collins had great chemistry on screen and kept my interest in every scene the two were in together.
Overall Thoughts and Rating
Rating: 3 out of 5
While I enjoyed not only Zac Efron in the film, I also thought Collins, John Malkovich, Jim Parsons and Haley Joel Osment did an awesome job; it was the “story” I had a problem with. The movie did not bring anything new to the Ted Bundy story and I felt like it did a dishonor to the victims and families of the victims of Bundy’s crimes but overlooking the severity of his brutal acts. If you are interested in the Ted Bundy story, check Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile out but don’t expect an award winning film that will have you shockingly at the edge of your seat. It is just, OK.
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