“Ted Bundy” (2002) marks the second film adaptation of the notorious serial killer’s story, following the 1986 television production, “The Deliberate Stranger,” and preceding "Ann Rule Presents: The Stranger Beside Me," which premiered the subsequent year. Several more movies about him have appeared since then. It's said that the term "serial killer" didn't exist until Bundy’s crimes came to light. His earliest suspected victim was when he worked as a paper boy in Tacoma at age 14. He eventually confessed to 30 murders across seven states between 1974 and 1978, although he later indicated there were additional victims; estimates suggest the number could range from 60 to 100. Bundy was first incarcerated in Utah in 1975 for kidnapping and assault. He then became a suspect in numerous unsolved murders across multiple states. While imprisoned in Colorado for homicide, he managed two successful escapes, committing further attacks—including three more homicides in Florida—before his final arrest in 1978. He received three death sentences during separate trials related to the Florida killings and was executed by electrocution in Starke, Florida, on January 24, 1989, at the age of 42. A peculiar aspect of the Bundy case is that he possessed a high level of education, charisma, and conventionally attractive features. Combined with his ability to convincingly deceive people, he managed to fool those around him, including Ann Rule, until overwhelming evidence emerged. This explains why one woman in Washington allowed him to stay with her after his release from confinement in Utah as a suspect, and also accounts for a woman’s marriage to him between 1980 and 1986 while he was imprisoned in Florida for eleven years. I have only seen this film and the subsequent 2003 movie, “Ann Rule Presents: The Stranger Beside Me,” which presents the story from the perspective of the true-crime writer who befriended Bundy at a suicide crisis hotline. Both films effectively demonstrate how the killer presented himself as harmless to his victims. Despite alterations like name changes, the core narrative remains accurate and both movies are compelling. This one includes moments of dark humor; not because the murders themselves were funny, but because it’s almost unbelievable that such a charming, attractive, educated man could so easily deceive numerous intelligent people, evade justice for an extended period, and pull off two successful escapes. Furthermore, these films prompt viewers to research the actual events. They also highlight how women—particularly younger ones—should be cautious when interacting with strangers and trust their instincts, even if someone seems exceptionally charming, intelligent, and harmless. One film depicts a potential victim who sensed something was wrong and managed to escape, later identifying Bundy in a lineup. Some claim that the 1986 TV movie "The Deliberate Stranger" is more faithful to the facts, but it ran for over three hours and was released nearly three years before Bundy’s execution. This film and “The Stranger Beside Me,” however, appropriately portray his ultimate fate. What a foolish person he was, and what an immense loss of humanity—both on his part and, especially, that of his many tragic victims, not to mention the numerous unsuspecting individuals he manipulated with his deceptive charm. The movie has a running time of 1 hour and 39 minutes and was filmed in Los Angeles (including Los Angeles City College), as well as north of there in Santa Clarita and Castaic Lake State Recreation Area. GRADE: B

Source on TMDB