Directed by:
Joe BerlingerScreenplay:
Michael WerwieCinematography:
Brandon TrostCast:
Zac Efron, Lily Collins, Kaya Scodelario, Haley Joel Osment, Angela Sarafyan, John Malkovich, Jim Parsons, Jeffrey Donovan, Brian Geraghty, Terry Kinney (more)VOD (1)
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Ted (Zac Efron): handsome, smart, charismatic, affectionate. Liz (Lily Collins): a single mother, cautious, but smitten. A picture of domestic bliss, the two seem to have it all figured out, that is until Ted is arrested and charged with a series of increasingly grisly murders. As concern turns to paranoia, Liz is forced to consider how well she knows the man she shares a life with and, as the evidence piles up, decide if Ted is truly a victim, or actually guilty as charged. (Universal Pictures UK)
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Reviews (10)
Netflix really hit the mark here. I expected it to be a more average crime show, but Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile was a full-blown surprise. Zac Efron has mostly played comedic roles throughout his career, so there were some reservations about his portrayal of Ted Bundy. But he delivered an absolutely phenomenal performance. I truly did not expect that. The acting in the film is top-notch; even Lily Collins, who played Bundy's wife, performed like her life depended on it. The film doesn't focus as much on depicting individual murders but instead offers a psychological spectacle, fully showcasing what a manipulator Bundy was (in hindsight, it's incredible how he managed to sway so many fans to his side). The courtroom scenes are quite convincingly done, and I was stunned by Bundy's audacity in court. Of course, it also has its chilling moments (the scene where he confesses to his wife gave me huge chills). Solid work on all fronts. For me, it's an 8/10.
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This is an interestingly grasped and successfully made profile of a madman capable of hiding his true personality almost even from himself. The film does not show a single Bundy murder and only depicts his deceptively “normal” position. If it weren’t for two hints of his dark nature, it would appear that he perhaps wants to deny the accusations against him. Efron turns in an entertaining performance with his portrayal of Bundy’s wily adroitness as a law student in the courtroom. And it is emotional with the story of his girlfriend, torn by the inner conflict between being in love and doubts/fears that she might be wrong in believing in his innocence. Her situation is the film’s dramatic engine.
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You should definitely be prepared for the fact that the new treatment doesn't focus on Ted Bundy's rampage, but rather on its consequences, and I was very happy with it. Zac Efron has one foot in the electric chair and one foot in the Oscar, because not only does he give his best performance to date, but he will also stay in your memory for a long time. He will surprise a lot of people here with his acting qualities. The film more or less avoids violence and we follow Bundy's trials, his escape from prison and his relationship, and the most interesting thing is that his girlfriend had absolutely no idea what he was. It's got a very nice pace, a decent retro vibe, perfect courtroom scenes where Bundy confidently defends himself and downright wipes his ass with the judges, the lawyers and the whole proceedings. It's interesting that you are more or less rooting for Bundy, because he's likeable on the surface and he is very eloquent, but we all know he's a man who doesn't belong in society. The film is also decently emotional at the end and the acting is absolutely spot on. For me, a nice surprise this year, but not everyone will be happy with this version. 80%
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He's young, charming, educated, handsome, and he also kills women sometimes. Ted Bundy was one of America's most terrifying serial killers, but what he was doing was long refused to be believed by those closest to him and much of the American public. And Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile shows that this is actually quite understandable... Zac Efron gives a very good performance and Joe Berlinger is quite clever at playing with the audience. Unfortunately, the film runs out of ideas somewhere in the middle and starts to become unnecessarily transparent and frankly a bit untrustworthy. Which is quite a pity.
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You can tell Joe Berlinger’s documentary background really shines through. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile is a solid drama about one of America’s notorious serial killers, though it leans heavily on factual accuracy over cinematic flair. The film feels more like a well-researched book brought to life than a suspenseful thriller. But even with that, Zac Efron is absolutely remarkable in the role. I was genuinely impressed with how he took on such a challenging character and nailed it.
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