Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile director says more Ted Bundy films aren’t a bad thing: ‘If people want to make a film, they should make a film’

Zac Efron (L) portrayed the serial killer in the film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (Picture: Netflix/Getty)

In recent years, Hollywood has offered up more films about serial killer Ted Bundy than you could count on one hand.

The killer, who confessed to more than 30 murders, has been the subject of films like No Man Of God and The American Boogeyman, both of which are released this year.

However, one of the first came in the form of Joe Berlinger’s Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, starring Zac Efron a movie that aimed to show how Bundy used his charisma to lure in his victims.

While some have argued that it’s time to stop making films about Bundy, Berlinger doesn’t quite feel the same way.

‘I don’t want to say, hey, there’s too many of anything being made,’ he said, speaking to Metro.co.uk ahead of the release of his documentary The Longest Wave. ‘If people want to make a film, they should make a film.

‘They should do it responsibly and the viewer has the ultimate decision-making power to watch or not to watch.

‘But yes, we must tell these stories responsibly, and then if you go through my filmography and ask me about any story, I should be able to tell you what is the social justice reason behind that? What is the larger thing I’m trying to communicate and I can tell you that for every project I’ve ever done.’

Joe Berlinger was careful not glorify Bundy (Picture: Henny Garfunkel)

He added: ‘I will say that, prior to my Ted Bundy project, there hadn’t been one for a very long time so when I did it, I feel like I had the right motivation. [But] that doesn’t mean other people doing it have the wrong motivation.’

However, Berlinger does take issue with anyone claiming that his film ‘glorifies’ Bundy.

‘Somebody with my background, who has spent 30 years making films on the criminal justice system, I’ve changed laws, I’ve shone a light on systemic problems within our criminal justice system…that film was done in close collaboration with the victim whose story it’s about,’ he said.

‘She approved of the project and I gave her the opportunity to look at the script and make sure there was nothing in it that bothered her. She asked for a few changes – nothing that would make it inaccurate – so I had the full support of the victim whose story it was about.’

Bundy was executed after confessing to the murders of 30 women (Picture: Bettmann Archive)

Berlinger, who made his name with his serial killer documentaries, is stepping outside his comfort zone for his new film The Longest Wave, which sheds light on the life of professional waterman Robby Naish in the transition from competing to life after professional sport.

Explaining that he’s no expert in the world of surfing, Berlinger recalled: ‘I agreed to meet with Robbie and I was just very impressed with Robbie and his quietness and his zen and I started to dig in and thought, “There’s a really interesting story here – somebody who has this incredible career that some people don’t know about,” and it was just a great adventure.’

‘If you don’t have the knowledge and you’re not a fan, you can kind of see through the forest and get to the truth,’ he added.

‘Before you sign onto any film, you have to make sure it’s a world you want to live in for two years, three years. Are these people you want to spend time with? Is this the subject you want to get to know? This ticked all those boxes for me.’

‘It’s very accessible, even if you know nothing about surfing,’ Berlinger added. ‘I think that accessibility comes from the fact that the maker was coming at it, not as a fan who knows every intricacy of the sport, but as somebody who was inquiring all the time.’

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As for what he wants viewers to take away from The Longest Wave, Berlinger explained: ‘When you put your mind to something, anything is achievable.

‘Robbie’s achievement from the age of 13 to what the film shows is just dedication to excellence and perfection and always pushing yourself and I think that’s very inspiring.’

The Longest Wave premieres August 10th only on Red Bull TV, a free, on demand streaming service available on the web and as an app across devices big and small. Watch the premiere here.

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