Highbrow Magazine - Ted Bundy https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/ted-bundy en ‘Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman’ Misses the Mark https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/12489-ted-bundy-american-boogeyman-misses-mark <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/film-tv" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Film &amp; TV</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Fri, 08/27/2021 - 14:35</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1bundyfilm.jpg?itok=KSXUJj06"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1bundyfilm.jpg?itok=KSXUJj06" width="480" height="252" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">I’m starting to think there’s a government mandate that says there have to be at least two Ted Bundy movies every year. At this point, if a Ted Bundy movie is attempted by a studio, they better make sure it’s a good one to stand up to the monolith of competition out there. <em>Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman</em> is not one of those movies.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Tone is important in a movie like this and the first few scenes make it hard to determine what kind of tone the director was shooting for. At first, it seems like a serious look at Bundy’s crimes, but the music and writing feel like they’re from an old VHS slasher flick. The whole soundtrack feels very ‘80s, which is odd considering the movie takes place in the 1970s. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">One of the first scenes sees the main character, Kathleen McChesney, dealing with some sexist cops and superiors in a way that feels right given the subject matter. I know the movie takes place decades ago, but the interactions between McChesney and her fellow officers seem more appropriate for a high school class than a law enforcement setting. There’s even a part where she chastises a sexist cop and the room goes “oooooo” like it’s a kid’s show.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/2bundyfilm.jpg" style="height:450px; width:600px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The writing in general appears quite clumsy. Exposition is constantly delivered via convenient news broadcasts that the characters just so happen to be watching at the right time. There’s a scene where McChesney and her partner come up with the term “serial killer” that feels forced. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Neither of the leads (Holland Roden and Chad Michael Murray) deliver great performances, but as the movie goes on, it’s more apparent that the problem is the script and not the actors. The writing just isn’t there to support a movie like this, especially when the tone isn’t consistent. There are so many aspects that are ripped from the kind of old-school slashers you’d rent from the video store. The cinematography is interesting at times, but it doesn’t make up for the rest.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">It’s hard to tell whom this movie is for. Viewers who are into dramatizations of serial killers have plenty of options to choose from, and fans of old slasher flicks already have backlogs of movies to watch. The writing, performances and lack of suspense make for a forgettable experience. It’s not scary or funny or even interesting enough to recommend.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/3bundyfilm.jpg" style="height:600px; width:400px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>Author Bio:</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong><em>Ulises Duenas is a contributing writer at</em> Highbrow Magazine.</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>For Highbrow Magazine</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/ted-bundy-american-boogeyman" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/ted-bundy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ted Bundy</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/slasher-films" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">slasher films</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/murder-mysteries" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">murder mysteries</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/crime-movies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">crime movies</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/new-films" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">new films</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Ulises Duenas</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Fri, 27 Aug 2021 18:35:02 +0000 tara 10593 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/12489-ted-bundy-american-boogeyman-misses-mark#comments