Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019)

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile is the recently released direct-to-Netflix movie staring Zac Efron as serial killer Ted Bundy. This biographical crime thriller doesn't touch on Bundy's upbringing, or really anything of his life before he started his murder spree. Additionally, we don't see much of the actual violence. The majority of the film splits time between Bundy being in and out of courtrooms and scenes featuring his girlfriend Elizabeth Kendall (played by Lily Collins).

The movie overall is pretty interesting if you're into films about serial killers and Zac Efron gives a really solid performance. However, it is a Netflix movie and it shows. The movie seems to lack direction, and the cinematography and score are nothing to write home about.

Not bad for what it is, but it's really only worth watching for Efron.

2.5 out of 5

Today's Movie: Parkland (2013)

Based on real events, this film takes place in Dallas, Texas on the day of the JFK assassination, as well as, the days following. The film follows the events of those few days from the perspective of a couple different people that were affected, including Robert Oswald the brother of Lee Harvey Oswald.

Early on we meet Abraham Zapruder (played by Paul Giamatti) who was filming the President’s motorcade when the assassination happened. As you’d probably expect, much of the film deals with the secret service and FBI.  Ron Livingston I thought was particularly good as FBI agent James P. Hosty. On the other hand, you have Billy Bob Thornton playing a secret service agent and his performance is pretty forgettable.

In addition to Giamatti, Livingston, and Thornton the film also stars Zac Efron, who plays a doctor at the Parkland Hospital where the recently shot President Kennedy is taken and later pronounced dead. Nothing against Zac Efron, but I just don’t buy him as a medical professional. He seems a little out of place in the film.

Overall, the film is a mixed bag. There are a couple of good performances, and though the film is about a memorable event in American history there really isn’t anything in the film that you haven’t seen before. It’s a pretty cut and dry retelling of events.

Not an awful movie, but nothing special either.

I give this one a 2.5 out of 5.

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