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| Ted Bundy: Who was the serial killer Zac Efron plays in new film? | Ted Bundy: Who was the serial killer Zac Efron plays in new film? |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Warning: This article contains details about a serial killer's actions, which you may find upsetting. | Warning: This article contains details about a serial killer's actions, which you may find upsetting. |
| Zac Efron's known for playing handsome, charming, leading men - and his latest film role is no exception. | Zac Efron's known for playing handsome, charming, leading men - and his latest film role is no exception. |
| But his character in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile is a long way from the beaches of Baywatch. | But his character in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile is a long way from the beaches of Baywatch. |
| He's playing one of the most infamous serial killers in US history - Ted Bundy - in an adaptation of a book written by Elizabeth Kloepfer, Bundy's girlfriend during his time killing. | He's playing one of the most infamous serial killers in US history - Ted Bundy - in an adaptation of a book written by Elizabeth Kloepfer, Bundy's girlfriend during his time killing. |
| And the film is on Netflix now. | And the film is on Netflix now. |
| What did Ted Bundy do? | What did Ted Bundy do? |
| Between February 1974 and February 1978 Ted Bundy murdered 30 women - he's been linked to many more killings. | |
| He would often approach women in public places, gain their trust with his charm or a fake injury, and then lure them to secluded areas and kill them. | He would often approach women in public places, gain their trust with his charm or a fake injury, and then lure them to secluded areas and kill them. |
| He kept trophies from his victims - including severed heads found in his apartment - and had sex with their bodies after the murders. | He kept trophies from his victims - including severed heads found in his apartment - and had sex with their bodies after the murders. |
| Bundy was first arrested in 1975 for kidnapping a woman, Carol DaRonch, and sentenced to up to 15 years in jail. | Bundy was first arrested in 1975 for kidnapping a woman, Carol DaRonch, and sentenced to up to 15 years in jail. |
| But in 1977 he escaped by jumping out of a prison library window. | But in 1977 he escaped by jumping out of a prison library window. |
| He was recaptured for eight days and then escaped again - when he continued to kill until finally being caught in 1978. | He was recaptured for eight days and then escaped again - when he continued to kill until finally being caught in 1978. |
| Bundy remained behind bars until he was executed in 1989, aged 42. | Bundy remained behind bars until he was executed in 1989, aged 42. |
| What made Ted Bundy different? | What made Ted Bundy different? |
| Bundy managed to win the trust of his female victims, often by pretending he had broken bones and needed help with certain tasks. | Bundy managed to win the trust of his female victims, often by pretending he had broken bones and needed help with certain tasks. |
| It wasn't just a fake cast that helped him gain their trust though - many have commented on his good looks and charm. | It wasn't just a fake cast that helped him gain their trust though - many have commented on his good looks and charm. |
| It's since been debated whether his perceived good looks have received too much attention - with the brutal nature of his crimes and the memory of his victims ignored. | It's since been debated whether his perceived good looks have received too much attention - with the brutal nature of his crimes and the memory of his victims ignored. |
| When the trailer for Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile first premiered, there were accusations that the film was "sexualising" a man who committed violent acts against women. | When the trailer for Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile first premiered, there were accusations that the film was "sexualising" a man who committed violent acts against women. |
| Kathy Kleiner Rubin, who survived a Bundy attack in 1978, believes the film "glorifies" Bundy "more than it should do" - but says people need to "understand him as what he was". | Kathy Kleiner Rubin, who survived a Bundy attack in 1978, believes the film "glorifies" Bundy "more than it should do" - but says people need to "understand him as what he was". |
| "When they do say positive and wonderful things about him, that's what they saw. That's what Bundy wanted to be seen," she told TMZ. | "When they do say positive and wonderful things about him, that's what they saw. That's what Bundy wanted to be seen," she told TMZ. |
| What's the film about? | What's the film about? |
| The film is about Ted Bundy's crimes, home life and trial for the murder of 30 women in the 1970s. | The film is about Ted Bundy's crimes, home life and trial for the murder of 30 women in the 1970s. |
| That's the number he confessed to - but it's believed he killed many more. | That's the number he confessed to - but it's believed he killed many more. |
| Bundy's story has been told many times before in films, documentaries and books, but this is the first time it's been told on-screen from Elizabeth Kloepfer's view. | Bundy's story has been told many times before in films, documentaries and books, but this is the first time it's been told on-screen from Elizabeth Kloepfer's view. |
| She stuck by Bundy during the '70s, and he was a father figure to her daughter Molly. | |
| Elizabeth, who's played by Lily Collins, met Ted Bundy in 1969 but it took her five years before she became suspicious of his behaviour. | Elizabeth, who's played by Lily Collins, met Ted Bundy in 1969 but it took her five years before she became suspicious of his behaviour. |
| That's when things like a bowl of women's underwear, bandages, and the knife he kept in his car tipped her off that something wasn't right, and she reported him to the police. | That's when things like a bowl of women's underwear, bandages, and the knife he kept in his car tipped her off that something wasn't right, and she reported him to the police. |
| But she says there wasn't enough evidence at that point for officers to investigate. | But she says there wasn't enough evidence at that point for officers to investigate. |
| Her suspicions also didn't slow their relationship - nor did the time Bundy tried to kill her with fumes from an open fire while she slept. Elizabeth didn't fully cut ties with him until 1980. | Her suspicions also didn't slow their relationship - nor did the time Bundy tried to kill her with fumes from an open fire while she slept. Elizabeth didn't fully cut ties with him until 1980. |
| What do the stars of the movie say? | What do the stars of the movie say? |
| Zac Efron says he had "reservations" about taking on the role. | Zac Efron says he had "reservations" about taking on the role. |
| "I didn't want to do it initially," he said in an interview with the BBC's Simon Mayo. "I didn't want to glamourise a killer." | "I didn't want to do it initially," he said in an interview with the BBC's Simon Mayo. "I didn't want to glamourise a killer." |
| Lily Collins has questioned whether another actor would have faced the same level of scrutiny as Zac has. | Lily Collins has questioned whether another actor would have faced the same level of scrutiny as Zac has. |
| And she insists the movie focuses on Elizabeth more than Bundy's crimes and evil nature, despite its title. | And she insists the movie focuses on Elizabeth more than Bundy's crimes and evil nature, despite its title. |
| "You don't see any imagery, you just hear about it and that's what Liz would have been seeing," Lily says. | "You don't see any imagery, you just hear about it and that's what Liz would have been seeing," Lily says. |
| "It's only when Liz makes a discovery that the audience does as well." | "It's only when Liz makes a discovery that the audience does as well." |
| What do the critics say? | What do the critics say? |
| Early reviews of the movie have been mixed. | Early reviews of the movie have been mixed. |
| Empire magazine describes it as having a "goofy tone" and says neither Ted Bundy nor Elizabeth Kloepfer are explored fully. | Empire magazine describes it as having a "goofy tone" and says neither Ted Bundy nor Elizabeth Kloepfer are explored fully. |
| But its review praises Zac Efron, saying "it's the best work he's ever done". | But its review praises Zac Efron, saying "it's the best work he's ever done". |
| A review in the Metro criticises the lack of horror in the movie, saying that without it the film "risks becoming a prison escape caper". | A review in the Metro criticises the lack of horror in the movie, saying that without it the film "risks becoming a prison escape caper". |
| It adds that the only way to stop sensationalising Bundy's crimes is to stop making movies about him. | It adds that the only way to stop sensationalising Bundy's crimes is to stop making movies about him. |
| And the Observer says it feels "dishonest" to tell Bundy's story from Elizabeth's point of view, because Bundy himself admitted he was unable to form relationships. | And the Observer says it feels "dishonest" to tell Bundy's story from Elizabeth's point of view, because Bundy himself admitted he was unable to form relationships. |
| "Everyone is in on the con but Liz," it says. | "Everyone is in on the con but Liz," it says. |
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