Ted Bundy - No Man of God

I didn't watch any of the early films on Ted Bundy; so I can't tell if this movie has anything further to offer or not! But I can definitely tell that this Amber Sealey directorial is a serious & authentic take on the famous serial killing case by Bundy.

To be precise, this movie is hardly about Bundy's charismatic crimes or the trial process; actually it's about his unusual relationship with FBI Special Agent Bill Hagmaier in his final days before execution. I find this perspective of storytelling convincing enough to try once & I can say that this is a decent work.

A solid two men performance from Elijah Wood and Luke Kirby, an eerie score & an engaging enough screenplay made No Man of God a gripping watch. The movie didn't require many gruesome crime flashbacks as some dialogues were so well written & powerful that it gave a more prominent visual. I found some moments exceptional; especially that tv interview scene & when we can see the amalgamation between Ted & Hagmaier's character. Overall No Man of God deserves your attention for some real good reasons.

Luke Kirby's portrayal of Ted Bundy was exceptional. I literally felt like I was watching Bundy at many points. And this made No Man Of God all the more believable, as a documentation of some of the notorious killer's final prison conversations.

Kudos.

While we've seen quite a bit of Tewd Bundy in the last few years, "No Man of God" does offer an interesting take on his story.

Playing out more like a very intimate stage play, there is not much action to be had. It's mostly dialogue scenes.

Luckily the acting is pretty strong, especially Luke Kirby, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Ted Bundy in terms of look and mannerism.

I quite enjoyed this film, though it might be a bit too uneventful for some.

You may never have thought about it, but there are people who tell us (and not without merit and some valid points), that even someone like Hitler could not have been a monster 24/7 ... now what does that mean? If someone says that, you should assume that they are trying to figure out what the appeal was. Because the way we learn about him ... it sounds like everyone back then must have been equally evil or completely crazy.

I would assume that some were just roped into things ... Htiler and everyone around him got others to see a human side in them. Now why do I go to all those lengths? Because the same thing can be applied here. We see a bit of a human side of Bundy. He is not just the wild crazy maniac - I mean he is of course, but the performance here and the script give him some depth. And give Bill, the one interviewing him, something to hold onto.

Intriguing and suspensful - living of the performances of the main cast and some terrific developments. And a really exhilarating highlight towards the end ... talk about face off ... and talk about sucking someone and really getting them into their head ... not an easy watch for sure and not for everyone either.

Based upon real recordings, tells the story of interviews between an FBI profiler and Ted Bundy in his final years.

Ted Bundy is one of the most notorious serial killers in history. There have been numerous books and films about him. It almost feels like there is an oversaturation of Ted Bundy in the past couple of years. Many past adaptations of his life seem to cover the same key points, his killings, and his trial. No Man of God decides to take a different approach to Bundy. This film decides to take Bundy in a more intimate and chilling environment as he is waiting for his execution. No Man of God is the most chilling adaptation of the notorious serial killer.

On the surface of No Man of God, its two men sitting in a room talking to each other. However, this film is more than that. No Man of God is an intricate battle of wits. If you are someone who loves Netflix's Mindhunter, you are going to love this movie. The dialog is complex and fascinating. I was left on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to be said next. Furthermore, the way this film portrayed the complicated relationship between Agent Hagmaier and Bundy was fascinating to watch. You see the mental turmoil that Hagmaier is going through by having numerous conversations with Bundy feels grounded. At the end of the film, you ponder who influenced who. Amber Sealey has brought to life the most grounded and fascinating look into Ted Bundy.

With the majority of this film being in a single setting, the acting really shines through and carries this film. Elijah Wood and Luke Kirby give powerhouse performances. This is some of the best work I've seen from both actors. The pair had excellent chemistry with one another. Wood masterfully shows the eager FBI analyst who wants to learn from Bundy while also being torn apart by interacting with him. The emotional turmoil of interacting with Bundy and trying to keep faith in your religion Wood pulls off perfectly. Kirby is chilling as Ted Bundy. He pulls off the perfect balance between charming, intelligent, and creepy perfectly. Kirby's gives the best adaptation of Bundy that I've seen in film.

For this being an independent film, this film looks gorgeous. Every shot you feel the eeriness of Ted Bundy around you. Furthermore, this film has a lot of really unique shots that are masterfully edited together. My only complaint with this film is that there is one scene at the end that feels out of place with the rest of the film. If you watch the film, you will know the scene that I am talking about. Other than that I heavily enjoyed this film.

All in all, No Man of God is a complete package. This film has excellent directing, writing, and acting that will leave you questioning your humanity. Furthermore, you may not learn anything new about Bundy, but the film provides a fascinating psychological look into the notorious serial killer.

I am giving No Man of God, an A-.