A film whose title did not justify itself Turned on this movie and immediately came to mind the thought: how is this film different from “Beautiful, Bad, Evil” with Zac Efron as Bundy? Well, besides the fact that another word appeared in the title - "beginning"?
Answer: nothing! In theory, the prefix “beginning” should hint that this film will show the background of Ted Bundy – one of the most creepy maniacs of the 20th century in the United States. In the end, the picture mentions perhaps the very first murder he committed. But! It's just mentioned. In steel, "Beautiful, Bad, Evil." The beginning is almost a repetition of everything that was presented to the viewer in the project of the same name with Efron.
These films are neither sequels of each other nor prequels. They are not related to each other in chronology. Except that the main antagonist of the picture is the same.
But if the 2018 film with Efron recreated some crime scenes, Bundy’s escape from the courthouse, his attempts to “disguise” in ordinary life to knock the hounds off the trail, then the project in which Ted Bundy was played by Chad Michael Murray is more fictional, although it relies on documentary real facts (which the viewer learns at the very beginning). There are certainly scenes that copy the crimes committed by Bundy, such as the massacre in the dormitory at the end, but to show how it was is one thing, and to bring some meaning to the shown is completely different.
Based on the events of the film and the inner experiences of the maniac, it can be assumed that he reflected a lot and imagined himself almost a superman, or even God. You can hear his thoughts on this subject in the film. And perhaps that is why a certain element of mysticism was added to the film, due to which Ted Bundy turned from an ordinary person into a really inaccessible killer for searchers. However, how he was caught is a big question.
The impotence of FBI agents in the matter of catching Bundy and his invisibility (although all the time he remains in plain sight and does not even try to disguise himself), is very similar to one of the series of “The X-Files”, where the hero of Nick Chinland – Donnie the fetishist, received in prison a unique opportunity to suggest to people what is not really and thus evade those who followed him.
But it is one thing to watch a fantastic series and a completely different feature film, shot on a real-life serial killer and watch how he manifests some paranormal features. Although of course the creators of "Beautiful, Bad, Evil." The Beginnings were intended to show Ted Bundy's goal as a maniac with a leaked flask who considers himself superhuman. But it was not very easy to say.
From the picture taken from the facts that took place, it turned out to be a slasher-mad with blunt victims, with an elusive killer (who does not even have to hide his face under a mask – no one will find him anyway), with cops no less stupid than the victims who can only laugh at their colleagues.
The main character of the picture is Detective Kathleen McChesney (Holland Roden) kind of needs to attract attention and certainly so it happens. It's nice to look at, but in the 70s - when Bundy was operating, it is unlikely that a chip with pumping lips was common (they do not look very natural in relation to time). Plus, her participation in the film is simply not necessary, because the presence of the police and the FBI in the frame does not justify itself at all - everything is built exclusively on Bundy's crimes and the presence of detectives is due only to the fact that the director needed to tell how the term "serial killers" appeared.
I will say this: the one-time movie and the project with Zac Efron turned out much better than this film. “Initiation” will certainly work, but no more.
But look at you. I do not impose my opinion on anyone.
Enjoy your visit.
5 out of 10