this is a really good film. i think some of the criticism i've read (i'm looking at you, AV Club) is coming from those misinterpreting the film's message:
this is about the seduction, misdirection and an outright lie of a life ted bundy lived. underneath that is the reality, which is kept close to the vest thanks to the sheer fucking amazing performance by zac efron. he keeps himself in check so much you wonder if ted bundy is possessing him.
bundy was all about disguising and subterfuge. that's where the meat of this film is. it's told from a perspective that, if you don't know bundy's life, you'd think he *was* innocent. there are vague hints at his guilt, some various tosses of evidence. but ultimately, he is so convinced he's innocent...he's convincing you he's innocent.
the main character of this film is his long-term gf, who did believe he was innocent. and that's where the breadth of the theme is: so many people were duped by the guy. he charmed so many people.
this generation wants to really pan the guy as "just another white guy" who worked the system. but that's undermining him. was he a genius? not in the educated sense. but holy shit did he have a genius way of exploiting his averageness. he made you believe he was so average he could never do the things he was accused of. and that's what made him so dangerous.
efron's facial expressions in that last (highly fictional) scene while he's on death row (oh yeah spoiler...) is what makes this a really strong film. beneath that kind, gentle exterior was a madman, serial rapist and killer, begging to jump out of his own skin. and the text that provides the epilogue just underlines what bundy's lie was all about: he never wanted to be *convicted*, *guilty*. even when he confessed, he talked about the killings in 3rd person. he was the ultimate sociopath and psychopath.
the title of the film perfectly sums it up (even though it's a mouthful): that is part of the judge's reading of the verdict. throughout the film, the "audience" is led to believe that this is all just a misunderstanding. but when the verdict is read, we get that quote..."extremely wicked, shockingly evil and vile"...as if it's being revealed for the first time. he's opening the cover of his book and being judged for what he really is with those words.
so AV gets it wrong. it's not a misfire. it's a total success.
out of