Ted Bundy (2002)

Director:

Matthew Bright

Writers (WGA):

Stephen Johnston (written by) and
Matthew Bright (written by)

Release Date:

22 November 2002 (UK)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Not every serial killer fits the profile.

Plot:

The story of serial killer Ted Bundy.

Plot Keywords:

Serial Killer | Escape | Electric Chair | Execution | Crowbar

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Michael Reilly Burke	...	Ted Bundy
Boti Bliss	...	Lee (as Boti Ann Bliss)
Julianna McCarthy	...	Professor
Jennifer Tisdale	...	Pretty Girl
Michael Santos	...	Man at the Window
Annalee Autumn	...	Girl Attacked on Street (as Anna Lee Wooster)
Steffani Brass	...	Julie
Tricia Dickson	...	Barbara Vincennes (First Victim)
Meadow Sisto	...	Suzanne Welch (School Victim)
Eric DaRe	...	Male Partygoer (as Eric Dare)
Melissa Schmidt	...	Female Partygoer
Deborah Offner	...	Beverly
Zarah Little	...	Patricia Garber (Victim)
Alison West	...	Shawn Randall (Beach Victim)
Matt Hoffman	...	Arnie

Also Known As:

Bundy (UK) (USA) (working title)
The Ted Bundy Story (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence involving a sexual predator/serial killer, sexuality/nudity and language.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Malaysia:(Banned) | Philippines:R-18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | South Korea:18 | Netherlands:16 | Australia:R | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

First Look International

Trivia:

Cameron Bright was offered a role but he and his mother did not want him to be associated with a serial killer.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Ted is having sex with Lee tied up, as he is performing and the camera pulls back, Lee's underwear is visible.

Quotes:

Ted: This is the court of Ted!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Whatever Works (2009)

Soundtrack:

Martha's Street

A fascinating and disturbing look at one of America's most infamous serial killers.

Matthew Bright is best known for directing 'Freeway' and 'Freeway 2', two of the oddest movies ever to end up on the shelf at Blockbuster et al. Bright also wrote the absolutely bizarre cult classic 'Forbidden Zone', and even a telemovie about the awful 80s sit-com 'Diff'rent Strokes', so when I heard he had made this bio concerning one of the most infamous serial killers in modern history, I literally didn't know WHAT to expect. The opening sequences of 'Ted Bundy' with the unknown (to me) Bundy lookalike Michael Reilly Burke acting like a doofus in a bow tie had me wondering for a moment if Bright was going to play it strictly for laughs, but things quickly get darker and more serious. Bright adds very little of his usual black humour and flamboyant touches and the movie is all the more effective for it. The film doesn't attempt to explain why Bundy did what he did, there is no mention of his childhood or pop psychology, and I for one welcomed that. Burke increasingly became more convincing as Bundy, and the many murders were brutal and quite shocking. The long, drawn out execution at the climax was disturbing and highly effecting, and will be difficult for most viewers to forget. The strong supporting cast in the movie are largely unknowns, but keep an eye out for horror legend Tom Savini (who also did the special effects) and 'Repo Man's Tracey Walter in small but memorable roles. 'Ted Bundy' is in many ways a change in pace for Matthew Bright, but shows that there is a lot more to him than you might think. I was impressed by this movie, one of the best true life serial killer bios I have seen, and one which raises many more questions than it answers. I recommend it to anyone who is fascinated by the darker side of human nature, and puzzled by aberrant behaviour.