Retrato de un asesino

A note to any wannabe actors: study Mark Harmon's performance heavily here. You will learn all the tricks to being sauve, slick, sinister and charming. Unfortunately, the part had to be inspired by real events, of 70's wacko Ted Bundy. Masquerading as a law student with a talent of attracting girls seemingly in every port, a different man takes over at night as Harmon stalks and kills young women. This element of the film got a bit redundant after awhile, and really isn't the key. Neither is the endless policework that can be seen weekly on every prime-time cop show. It's Harmon's way of double-talking his girlfriends, and especially, the police. Watching Harmon's scenes on the witness stand or in the questioning room of the police station are your chance to watch a total pro at work. And the actors portraying the cops aren't slouches either. Tons of veterans like M. Emmett Walsh, Frederic Forest and John Ashton are featured. And a very effective performance from unknown journeyman actor George Grizzard, as Bundy's only friend through it all. He comes off very likable as the guy who just can't bring himself to condemn this young buck he admires. The two or three actresses featured here and there do ok as well. The only mis-step for the film is the majorly overdone, if still somewhat creepy music score. It gets a bit B-movie at times, but it adds to the eerieness of the film's tone. Though at 3 hours (4 if you're watching with commercials) it grips you from start to finish. But the real draw, most notably for aspiring actors, is to forget classes and watch Mark Harmon put on a clinic for performing.

Mark Harmon gives a chilling performance as Serial killer Ted Bundy in this 1986 TV movie that played over two nights. Harmon at the time was known for his role on the TV series St. Elsewhere and probably relished playing such a dark character. The movie focuses more on the victims families and the police detectives fight to bring him to justice. There is not any details about his childhood and why he became the monster he became except to say he was cold blooded sociopath who could appear as the guy next door. The police detectives must have thought they were chasing a supernatural phantom as Bundy managed to escape from custody twice. Bundy was eventually caught in 1979 and later executed in Florida in 1989. The movie is now available on DVD from Warner Brothers Archive Collection from Amazon.com and it looks great!! Also check out the True crime TV movies A Killer In The Family and The Deadly Tower on Warner DVD.

If you want to see the most detailed film on Bundy, especially as an adult during his crime spree, then this just over 3 hour, two part TV movie is still without a doubt the best bet. It doesn't detail or show much of his crimes, the scene usually cuts just before the crime, but that's how 80's TV movies usually dealt with the extreme. The film though does show many of Bundy's personal relationships and real nuances more than any other recreation I've seen. Harmon's Golden Globe nominated performance is perhaps the closest anyone has ever come to matching the real Bundy personaS, as multiple as they were. The film details quite well the cunning subtle manipulative aspects of Ted. Bringing girls he had safe relationships with to parties with connected community people, making a friendly, smiley appearance and then quickly taking off. Like a politician, just gradually working everybody little by little, until hopefully one day he could use them for his gain. He was a Psych major, a Law student and a person who had considered getting into politics. Bundy is the type of serial killer that interests me because he was smart. Most serial killers in history, the ones that have been caught at least, were not very intelligent people. There are of course quite a few exceptions, but it is true that predominantly most come from abusive backgrounds, with little money, and have less than average intelligence. It's just a fact. Bundy as well as most of the more interesting serial killers in history, definitely defy those often common factors, especially when it comes to intelligence. This film is pretty standard in it's delivery, but quite detailed and well acted, so very worth the watch. This account was actually praised for how close to fact it was when it came out. The amount of things they have right is pretty impressive, especially when you consider that when this film came out, Bundy still had not even confessed to even one of the murders on record. However the evidence was staggering. As it is well said in this film, the guy could in his mind rationalize anything. The only big knock I have against the film really is the terrible 80's musical score. Thankfully they didn't flood the film with too, too much of it. Just enough to make you very sure you hate it. 7.5/10.

who really knows if Ted Bundy committed even more that he refused to admit to. When he was first captured he confessed to murders in "the three digit area" enjoying the game of cat and mouse with the police.

Mark Harmon is excellent as Bundy, with his self-effacing handsomeness, he works his way into many women's lives, getting what he wants from several. Manipulating and deceiving is a way of life for a sociopath, and Ted Bundy uses and discards women; according to the very interesting book by Ann Rule (who actually worked with Bundy at a suicide hot-line near the Seattle, Washington campus).

George Grizzard portrays the journalist who Bundy kept in touch with. M. Emmet Walsh and Ben Masters do a good job, as detectives from various jurisdictions, working together before the FBI/VICAP department was established. Lawrence Pressman portrays the Seattle Washington politician Wolverton, who had employed Bundy at one time, early in his career.

We see the many victims, but not the actual murders. Glynnis O'Connor portrays Cas Richter, one of Bundy's "girlfriends" who later realizes in shock what Bundy is capable of. She is initially reluctant to go to the police however, and it is frightening to realize had she come forward earlier, that the police may have been able to apprehend Bundy, and prevent the string of murders he committed cross-country.

This story is worth watching for anyone interested in true crime. While it does not delve enough into Bundy's past, and motives, it does factually address the crimes, and the difficulty the police had in apprehending and finally convicting Ted Bundy. He was finally executed in Florida, in 1989. 8/10.

I think this movie is very good and it keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole way through. This movie is based on the murders of the famous mass murderer, Ted Bundy. This movie is entertaining, but on the other hand it's disturbing and depressing also. It would be bad enough if this movie were fiction, but this isn't fiction. Ted Bundy, the main character in this movie, began a murdering spree back in the middle 1970's and murdered many young innocent girls. This movie shows how looks can certainly be deceiving because Ted Bundy was not only a very handsome young man, but he was also very intelligent, well liked, and in fact studying to be a lawyer. In this film, it shows how nieve young girls can be. Who'd think this young and charming good lookin guy could have such a dark and cold side to him?! Well not many people thought this, no one at all. But of course this all changed when it was discovered that Ted Bundy murdered a bunch of young girls. I give this movie a 9/10 because it's very accurate. I think Mark Harmon did an excellent job with his role of Ted Bundy in the movie! It's definately worth seeing if you're interested in non-fiction stories, and also if you're interested in true-crime stuff.