One of the popular trends on Netflix are documentaries and biopics depicting events that happened in real life and strictly speaking, serial killers. There is something about the human curiosity when it comes to mortality mixed in with seeing this as something we think is entertaining in some sort of weird way. Tragic events depicted in films as well as news media outlets glamorize and showcase the unfortunate to draw us as humans in because of morbid curiosity. In turn, they capitalize and thrive and Netflix is definitely one of them with its content in regards to this nature. Is this good or bad? I'll let you as the reader decide.
"Extremely Wicked Shockingly Evil and Vial" is a biopic film based on Ted Bundy, one of America's most famous serial killers, and focuses on his ex-girlfriend Elizabeth Kloepfer (played by actress Lily Collins). Zac Efron plays Ted Bundy and it is an excellent casting decision because not only does he bear a resemblance of the real guy, but his performance is fantastic. Collins' portrayal of Elizabeth, or Liz as they call her, really captured the mental exhaustion that Liz experiences throughout the film. This is her journey with being a single mother and falling head over heels for a man she felt like she had a connection with followed by a heartbreaking ending to their relationship.
To start off, one thing I appreciated about this documentary was that it did not portray violence. Ted Bundy is known for committing unimaginably sick, horrific crimes on hundreds of women. He charmed them with his good looks, smooth talking, then eventually killed him. This movie's primary focus is his relationship with Liz and the turmoil she faces when he starts being charged and convicted. We see them happy together with Bundy helping her raise her daughter like she was his own. Then the trouble begins for Ted and he makes it out to be no big deal in which Liz supports him. When things start getting more and more crazy, she is faced with her own horror of possibly letting a serial killer into her and her daughter's lives. The lies, betrayals, and fear that Liz and Ted have rise to the surface and explode at the end of the movie. Liz's best friend and friend turned boyfriend Joanna (Angela Sarafyan) and Jerry (Haley Joel Osment) help her through the rough situation and eventually Liz has a breakthrough and makes peace with herself.
It took Liz quite some time to accept the truth about Ted. Many people that knew him best were in denial. We see subtle hints of Bundy contemplating his moves with Liz during an intimate scene, or when her daughter disappears in the morning to find her with Ted in the kitchen making breakfast. I feel like this film took on a subject of mental health and being in denial. How one person can be so convincing to another that it breaks that person because they are constantly wondering the what ifs without causing trouble to the overall relationship. Elizabeth has an extremely emotional roller coaster throughout the movie and I feel like it was a great story to see what she went through.
Zac Efron's portrayal of the notorious serial killer is gripping. He has so much soave and ease around people it is unnerving. You know he is up to no good and you wish you can yell through the television. Efron did a great job during the court scenes where Bundy takes it upon himself to fire his lawyer and perform his own defense. He is constantly, and I mean constantly trying to call Liz because she is his comfort. He needs all the allies he can get and decides to phone a friend after the last attempt to contact Liz.
In which, another character that deserves a mention is Carol Ann (played by Kaya Scodelario). She is a longtime friend of Bundy's and sticks with him until the very end. He marries her under the court during a trial and they take part in a conjugal visit (we later find out she is pregnant with his child). Scodelario's performance is excellent as well and we feel sympathy in a different way for Carol; she truly loves him and he will never fully love her in return because his heart will always be with Liz. Bundy calls her when Liz would not pick up the phone and she is there for him in an instant. She desperately wants to be with him, by his side, and is his number one supporter.
That being said, the script was very well written The content of the story is heavy. A few paragraphs ago, I mentioned that there was no violence depicted despite what the crimes alleged in the court scenes talk about. It worked that way; the film did not need it at all due to the creepy nature and off-put aura Ted Bundy casts.
The lighting in this movie really sets the tone. The use of three point lighting was prominent in scenes where Bundy was in jail and especially the ending scene where he is talking on the phone to Liz. He is dark but there is light behind him with a small flood light on his face, making the shadows marks on his face look almost sinister.
Another lighting technique I spotted was internal framing, which is lighting shot through objects and causing distortion. For instance, Bundy is leaning against a wall and there is light being cast off the wall across from him, or when he is in a scene with Liz and light shines off the window between the two creating a fantastic shot. Overall, the movie was shot with low-key lighting with a greenish hue to give off the creepy feeling that this is a movie about a heavy subject matter.
In regards to camera shots, there were alot of close up shots (medium and extreme), where you focus on the head down to the neck. This is used to convey the emotion a character is feeling through their facial features and eyes. For this particular movie, it is natural they would do that because of the material that is covered and the crazy emotional ride the characters go on. For example, we see Liz watching the trial and we can see it in her eyes what is going through her mind, and that is because of the close up shot. If you want to learn more about this camera technique, you can read about it from this great article I found here. https://www.videomaker.com/videonews/2012/11/6-reasons-to-get-an-extreme-closeup-shot
GFX and VFX-wise, there was not much which is to be expected. The set's theme was 70's and did not require much at all.
Overall, this was a great biopic that explored an event that happened and how it emotionally impacted everyone around it, especially those close to the serial killer. The emotions portrayed in this movie were showcased in a way we wanted to cry with the characters. We also see how someone can brainwash those closest to them and really convince someone of something.
I have not rated movies yet, but I am going to start. With that, this will be my first review with a rating.
Without further ado, I give this movie a 6/10.
Who doesn't love Zac Efron? What did you think of this movie and the points I talked about in the beginning? I would love to discuss!
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