Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile - Movie Review

Plot: A courtroom frenzy ensues and sweeps 1970s America when a young single mother reluctantly tips the attention of a widespread manhunt toward her longtime boyfriend, Ted Bundy.
Cast: Zac Efron, Lily Collins, Kaya Scodelario, Jeffrey Donovan, Angela Sarafyan, Dylan Baker, Brian Geraghty, Jim Parsons, John Malkovich, Haley Joel Osment
Director: Joe Berlinger
Certificate: 15 (strong references to violence and sexual violence, crime scene images, sex)
Runtime: 108 minutes
Release Date: Friday 3rd May 2019

For the past couple of years, true crime documentaries have become an incredibly popular fad. Netflix has dominated by seemingly releasing a new eight part series on every serial killer to have ever lived on a weekly basis. However, it was in January earlier this year when Joe Berlinger released a four part miniseries entitled Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes. Detailing the horrific crimes and the ensuing court cases, the series proved a hit. But Berlinger's fascination did not end there because at the same time his miniseries was streaming on Netflix, his feature length film centered on Bundy was premiering at Sundance. With beloved actor Zac Efron as an inspired piece of casting, expectations were certainly high. Unfortunately, Berlinger appears to have had trouble distinguishing between what makes a documentary work and what makes a film work.

Extremely Wicked is a very insightful dive into the disturbing manipulation Ted Bundy orchestrated but as a film, it's rather messy. To begin with, it's worth noting that if you're expecting a gruelling portrayal of Bundy's killings and savagery, Extremely Wicked is not that film. It in no way glamorizes Bundy but rather than tread down the gory path, Berlinger instead draws attention to his iconic persona; a persona that was able to charm and convince the entire world of his innocence. Sadly, whilst this unexpected angle boasts originality and a fresh breath within this serial killer sub-genre, it's the execution that draws the film to a complete halt. The film begins by detailing Bundy's interactions with his first wife, Elizabeth Kendall (Collins) as his manipulation is already beginning to take shape. But rather than allow this relationship to linger and for us to begin to notice the cracks in Bundy's façade, Berlinger and screenwriter Michael Werwie immediately thrust us into court case after court case where the film then takes on a very clinical approach. The court cases, as revealing as they may be, follow a very generic and factual perspective ultimately transitioning into another episode of Berlinger's miniseries. Therefore, whenever our attention is directed anywhere other than a courtroom, the pacing suffers because we haven't been given the chance to emotionally invest in this story. As a result, the majority of Extremely Wicked feels empty.

FACT: The film premiered on 26 January 2019 at the Sundance festival in Utah, coincidentally the state with many of Bundy's murders. The Sundance film festival starts on 24 January 2019, exactly 30 years to the day since Bundy's execution via electric chair in Florida.

Despite its rigorous need to stick the facts the entire time and never allow itself to become a movie on its own two legs, the shining glimmer that gives Extremely Wicked a necessary boost is a fantastically disturbing performance from Efron. Shedding all former preconceptions of his frat boy image, the charm, charisma, eeriness and volatility Efron exudes is a transformative experience. His ability to woo and captivate not just the other characters but the audience ourselves, is a terrific feat even to the point where we second guess ourselves regarding Bundy's guilt. Lily Collins also turns in a strong performance as Bundy's first wife and the two share a particularly strong scene towards the end of the film where a long awaited confrontation takes place. Other performances such as Haley Joel Osment, Jim Parsons and John Malkovich are all serviceable but none make much of a lasting impact. As we near the film's end and the court cases are drawing to a close, Extremely Wicked does pull off a few clever surprises if you aren't privy to Bundy's story but otherwise, the film isn't anywhere near as compelling as the story it's telling.

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile is by no means a terrible film and I'd hesitate to call it bad. It's simply an underwhelming presentation of what should have been a captivating portrayal of a murdering mastermind. Efron is spellbinding as Bundy and Collins is a strong anchor throughout but because of Berlinger's incessant urge to treat this like a list of facts, the end result is a thunderous bore.

Luke's Verdict: 4.5/10

What did you think of Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile? What crime film do you think would work better as a documentary series? Thanks for reading!!

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