Netflix’s new Ted Bundy film trailer shows Zac Effron’s dangerous and manipulative side

A new trailer for the Netflix film on Ted Bundy starring Zac Effron premiered Tuesday, striking a far more sinister tone than its original January teaser which was slammed for being ‘sexualized’ and a ‘punch in the face’ to the serial killer’s victims. 

The first promotional clip for Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile depicted the mass murderer with his shirt off and in a romantic clutch with his wife Liz Koefle, who is played by Lily Collins.

Critics took to Twitter to criticize the romanticized portrayal of Bundy, who confessed to killing 30 women in seven states and escaped custody twice.

But a full length trailer shows the killer in a far more manic, manipulative and unnerving state, with Effron’s character displaying the evil traits that made him one of the United States’ most notorious criminals.

 

Locked up: The trailer ends where it began, back in the visitation chamber

No mercy: We hear the judge on the soundtrack: 'The killings were extremely wicked, shockingly evil, vile'

No mercy: We hear the judge on the soundtrack: ‘The killings were extremely wicked, shockingly evil, vile’

The trailer opens in an prison visitation room, which it will return to periodically. Bundy enters the room to meet with his visiting girlfriend, Kloepfer. ‘Do you remember the night we met?’ she asks, as the screen cuts to the memory of a happier party scene. 

In another flashback montage, the charming serial killer shares glances with two smiling women in a library who are unaware of his true intentions.  

‘We’ve got a very disturbed, sick individual,’ says a voice in archival audio, as photographers push each other aside to take the serial killer’s picture.

We see one of his lawyers saying that he’ll have the first nationally televised trial in history. In the courtroom, the judge, played by John Malkovich, seems disarmed by Bundy’s good looks and charming demeanor.

All dressed up: In the courtroom, the judge, played by John Malkovich, seems disarmed by Bundy's good looks and charming demeanor. After he compliments the accused murderer's appearance, he replies, 'I'm disguised as an attorney today'

All dressed up: In the courtroom, the judge, played by John Malkovich, seems disarmed by Bundy’s good looks and charming demeanor. After he compliments the accused murderer’s appearance, he replies, ‘I’m disguised as an attorney today’

After he compliments the accused murderer’s appearance, he replies, ‘I’m disguised as an attorney today,’ referencing his failed attempts to become a lawyer. 

In another testy court scene, the judge shouts, ‘It is a capital murder case, and you are skating on thin ice.’

As the cutting becomes more frenzied, showing scenes of Bundy befriending different women, Kloepfer crimes out, ‘I wish I could take it all back!’

Then, as Bundy stands over a bed where Kloepfer lies unconscious, perhaps considering adding her to his list of victims, we hear the judge on the soundtrack: ‘The killings were extremely wicked, shockingly evil, vile.’

The trailer ends where it began, back in the visitation chamber.

Kloepfer begs for an answer: ‘Did you do these things, Ted?’

‘This is all gonna end,’ he says.

‘It’s only going to end with the truth, she replies.The final image is of Efron as Bundy, giving a frighteningly intense glare into the camera.

Preying: As the cutting becomes more frenzied, showing scenes of Bundy befriending different women, Kloepfer crimes out, 'I wish I could take it all back!'

Preying: As the cutting becomes more frenzied, showing scenes of Bundy befriending different women, Kloepfer crimes out, ‘I wish I could take it all back!’

Following the release of the first promotional trailer, however, audiences were left incensed that the portrayal was sympathetic and played on Effron’s good looks.

One person tweeted: ‘That’s exactly what Ted Bundy wanted. posthumous fame for his cruelties. 

‘You can count on Hollywood to make the worst human beings immortal.What’s next?The Harvey Weinstein biopic?

‘What a punch to the face for the victim’s families after all these years.’

Another user referenced the way the star came off as attractive as he might have in other flick’s he’s famed for such as Baywatch in 2017.

Some on Twitter complained the Zac Efron casting looked like a 'hyper-sexualized' film

Some on Twitter complained the Zac Efron casting looked like a ‘hyper-sexualized’ film

Others said the 90-second clip was disrespectful to the families of the women Ted Bundy killed

Others said the 90-second clip was disrespectful to the families of the women Ted Bundy killed

‘Can we not sexualize Ted Bundy? He raped, murdered, and decapitated women and had sex with their dead bodies. 

‘Not here for this hyper-sexualized Zac Efron film. I know the youth of twitter will obsess over him, and I’d prefer not to read thirst tweets about a serial murderer,’ another account shared.

But some people disagreed and pointed out that former Disney star heartthrob was the correct casting for a motion picture about how Bundy was romanticized by the media as his slayings of the 70s were reported. 

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