BUNDY: A LEGACY OF EVIL (2009)
Directed by MICHAEL FEIFER
Review by PHIL ALLELY


Released by North American Entertainment
Running Time: 95 minutes
Rating: NR
Color format: Color
Audio/Subtitles: English, Spanish subtitles
Region Code: 1, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen
16:9 Enhanced: Yes
Special Features: Director's commentary, stills gallery
Trailer Online: No

In the 1970s Ted Bundy was one of the most notorious serial killers in world; his bloody legacy left behind over dead bodies and made him one of the world’s most legendary of mass murderers. This film tries to show the making of the man and look into why he did the deeds he did.

BUNDY takes a slightly different route to serial killer movies than its peers have, giving us an insight into young Ted’s life, his family and his subsequent move into violence. This is a bloody movie with its fair share of violent scenes and gore. Although fans of the genre will not mind that all. The big problem is that the film feels like it knows what it’s trying to say, but doesn’t know how. The murder scenes are slightly disjointed and yet the main story comes across well presented, which makes viewing a trifle hard at times.

The murders shown are suitably and as expected very disturbing indeed, in fact to be honest lead actor Corin Nemec (as Bundy) seems to have the character well scouted, he really looks to be enjoying his role. Unfortunately the supporting cast have less of an impact, the victims are your usual series of good looking (although non-descript) young women who can scream when required and deliver their limited dialogue on cue. Fortunately horror movie veteran Kane Hodder (Friday The 13th’s Jason on multiple occasions) has a decent part in proceedings and offers an enjoyable foil to Nemec’s murderous alter ego. Hodder portrays the warden who is in charge of the imprisoned Bundy and in some ways actually seems to understand the troubled manic.

BUNDY’s writer/director Michael Feifer has done his homework at least, he had of course been responsible for the similar story of Ed Gein a few years back and learnt from that experience what the serial killer fans require in a movie about their idol. Sure BUNDY has its problems, the sound and music could have been better, the actors could have been better chosen and the story tightened up a bit, but overall this is probably one of the best representations of Ted Bundy’s life as you are ever likely to see.

If there’s one thing that this film does well it’s that it gives its main character a real persona, Ted is not portrayed as a weird kid who savours hurting people, he is shown as a confused kid with a traumatic childhood. His young beginnings like so many other serial killers having a large impact on his formative years and leading to his eventual breakdown and murderous streak. You actually do feel for the confused and bewildered Ted as he takes his final walk to the electric chair. It says something for a film when you actually feel sorry for a man, who you’ve spent the last 90 minutes or so watching butcher, burn and decapitate his helpless young victims.

Extras wise the few here don’t add much to the film as a whole, however the director’s commentary has a few nice bits of trivia and gives a decent idea of what he was trying to do with his picture, did he meet his expectations or not, watch and see! This film has received mixed reviews across the board, fans will love it, purists will say it makes the monster of a man too human and non-fans will find it confusing, but for those interested in these films, I’d say give it a shot.