Director of ‘Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile’ responds to criticism that movie ‘glorifies’ Ted Bundy

The Zac Efron movie premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile director Joe Berlinger has responded to claims that the film ‘glorifies’ Ted Bundy, calling the criticism “very naive”.

The Zac Efron-starring movie, which recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, details the notorious murderer’s crimes, trial, and subsequent incarceration.

While many critics have praised the leading actor’s performance in the film, many viewers have taken issue with how Bundy is portrayed as a charming and attractive individual. A survivor of the killer also said that Extremely Wicked “does glorify him more than I think he should be”. 

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Now, Joe Berlinger has offered a response to his critics, telling Bustle: “I think the idea of this particular story, making a movie about Bundy, equals glorification of him is a very naive and knee-jerk reaction.

“If you actually watch the movie, the last thing we’re doing is glorifying him. He gets his due at the end, but we’re portraying the experience of how one becomes a victim to that kind of psychopathic seduction.”

Berlinger continued: “I am highly aware of the hypocrisy that I myself participate in, about the nature of true crime filmmaking is that, at the end of the day, we’re making entertainment out of other people’s tragedy.”

Speaking of Bundy’s ability to deceive with his charm and good looks, the director claimed that the film provides “a very valid lesson” in how psychopaths operate and manipulate.

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Meanwhile, Netflix have reminded viewers not to lust after Ted Bundy, following the release of the series Conversations With A Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes.

 

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