Ted Bundy (film)

Ted Bundy is a 2002 American crime film directed and co-written by Matthew Bright. The film dramatizes the crimes of notorious serial killer Ted Bundy, and stars Michael Reilly Burke as Bundy, and Boti Bliss as Bundy's girlfriend, Lee (a character based on Elizabeth Kloepfer, Bundy's real-life girlfriend at the time he committed his killings).

Ted Bundy
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMatthew Bright
Produced byHamish McAlpine
Michael Muscal
Written byStephen Johnston
Matthew Bright
StarringMichael Reilly Burke
Boti Bliss
Music byKennard Ramsey
CinematographySonja Rom
Edited byPaul Heiman
Production
company
Tartan Films
Distributed byFirst Look Pictures Releasing (United States)
Metro Tartan Distribution (United Kingdom)
Release date
  • November 22, 2002 (2002-11-22)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited States
United Kingdom[1]
LanguageEnglish
Box office$68,716[2]

Plot

In Seattle, Washington, 1974, law student Ted Bundy (Michael Reilly Burke) appears to be the typical friendly guy-next-door; but underneath this gentle facade lies a monster. After watching women from their home window while masturbating, Bundy builds the courage to commit his first murder. From there, he always manages to lure a young woman to his car by faking a broken arm or an illness then asking for help or by disguising himself as a police officer. Then he knocks her unconscious with a tool, ties her up and drives her to an arranged location where he rapes and murders her. Driving his yellow VW Beetle, he leaves a bloody trail through the United States. The police are left in the dark, as no one suspects the young man for his reputable character in the community; being a model citizen and top-student.

In 1975, one of his victims, Tina Gabler, escapes him when she throws herself from his moving car. Based on her description of his car, Bundy is stopped by a police officer and arrested. In his trunk, the officers find pantyhose masks, a hand saw, a crowbar, knives, ropes and handcuffs. Even though he is identified by Tina Gabler in a lineup, he denies ever having seen the woman. When he is visited by his girlfriend at the Colorado State Prison, he admits to her that charges are being brought against him for multiple murders but stresses the fact that there is no evidence, however, and that he will never be convicted; at this point she distances herself from him. Due to his wish to defend himself, he is granted access to the courthouse law library, and promptly escapes by jumping from an upper story window. He is jailed again after an auto theft, but manages to escape yet again months later. This time he overpowers four women in their home and brutally beats them. After the murder of a little girl he becomes heavily intoxicated and is recognized by a police officer and arrested after a short chase. At trial the judge sentences Ted to be executed by electric chair. After having a conversation on the phone, Ted makes a final statement before the execution is carried out.

Cast
  • Michael Reilly Burke as Ted Bundy
  • Boti Bliss as Lee (based on Elizabeth Kloepfer)
  • Steffani Brass as Julie
  • Eric Da Re as Male Partygoer
  • Tricia Dickson as Barbara Vincennes (based on victim Lynda Healy)
  • Matt Hoffman as Arnie
  • Tracey Walter as Randy Meyers
  • Zarah Little as Patricia Garber (victim)
  • Julianna McCarthy as Professor
  • Deborah Offner as Beverly
  • Melissa Schmidt as Female Partygoer
  • Jennifer Tisdale as Pretty Girl
  • Michael Santos as Man at the Window
  • Meadow Sisto as Suzanne Welch (based on victim Susan Rancourt)
  • Alison West as Shawn Randall (based on victim Janice Ott)
  • Anna Lee Wooster as Girl Attacked on Street
  • Natasha Goodman as Suzanne Moore (based on victim Kimberly Leach)
  • Danielle Parris as Hooded Executioner
  • Katrina Miller as Jane Gilchrist (based on victim Nancy Wilcox or Debra Kent)
  • David Schroeder as Warden
  • Tiffany Shepis as Tina Gabler (based on victim Carol DaRonch)
  • Tom Savini as Salt Lake City Detective
  • Alexa Jago as Betty (based on Carole Ann Boone)

Reception

Box office

Ted Bundy has grossed $6,083 in the United States and Canada, and $62,643 in other territories, for a worldwide total of $68,716.[3]

Critical response

Upon its premiere on 13 September 2002 in New York and in Los Angeles on 20 September 2002, the film received mixed reviews from critics.[4] On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 41% based on 22 reviews, with an average rating of 5/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Ted Bundy wastes an impressive performance from Michael Reilly Rourke on an exploitative film devoid of any social context or depth."[5] Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 37 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "generally unfavourable reviews".[6]

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References
  1. "Ted Bundy (2002)". American Film Institute. 2002. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  2. "Ted Bundy (2002)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  3. "Ted Bundy". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  4. "Ted Bundy (2002)". American Film Institute. 2002. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  5. "Ted Bundy (2002)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  6. "Ted Bundy". Metacritic. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
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