The Deliberate Stranger

Forget the fact that this was a TV movie. The only thing which possibly could have prevented this movie from being released in theaters was its time (of nearly three and a half hours). Otherwise, it's probably the best movie about Ted Bundy ever released.

Mark Harmon is surprisingly good in this movie. The reason I say surprising is because he has had comedy roles before this one (e.g. "St. Elsewhere"), so you wouldn't expect him to play a complex serial killer as well as he actually does. What Harmon manages to do is portray Bundy as a complex character, successfully balancing Bundy's outer charm and inner sociopathic ways. I have seen other movies about Bundy, and those actors portray one side of him with inaccurate results. It really takes the person who plays Bundy to carry the entire movie, and when such a complicated serial killer is played the wrong way, the entire movie comes off as an exploitation or a cheap horror film.

This movie also gives detail into the police who are trying to track him down, and that information is equally as fascinating as Bundy's character. The addition of the late Dick Larson (portrayed by George Grizzard), the reporter who wrote the book to which the movie was based, gave a really good outsider's perspective of the Ted Bundy case. It's almost as if Larson was added in to represent the idea of the viewers. After all, it is Larson who wonders towards the end of the movie how a well-educated, ambitious, promising young man (who majored in psychology, no less) could be so ruthless when he could have been much better in life. The movie doesn't admittedly delve into Bundy's thought process, but it doesn't really have to. Plus, many authors have attempted to analyze Bundy, and a movie which does the same could take five hours to even cover the basics.

It's really all the perspectives of Bundy that make this movie great. From Bundy's own perspective to that of the police to Larson, and finally to the victim's families. One especially difficult part of the movie was when one of the victim's fathers goes into the coroner's office to identify the remains of his daughter. His wife stays outside on his insistence, and the shouting that comes from him says it all. I don't know if R-rated freedom to show the victim's true remains would do that scene any more justice. It's one of the movie's many terrifying moments.

I'm also surprised that this two-part series was shown late at night, because I was unable to get to sleep after seeing the Chi Omega scene. The editing in that scene is terrific, and it stays in your mind long after the movie is over. I count myself fortunate to have seen this movie during the daytime when I didn't have to go to bed afterwords.

So simply put, this movie is still a must see, and that's saying a lot for a TV movie that was made in 1986. As of the date I am writing this review, the movie has yet to be released on DVD, and can only be seen either on Lifetime or on its now out-of-print videocassette. It's a great movie about a still-mysterious serial killer that tells us enough to keep us glued to the screen. It's a must see, but it's far more difficult going to sleep after seeing it.

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.

A two-part, made-for-TV movie on the life of serial killer Ted Bundy, this was an intriguing, well-done film. Mark Harmon is excellent as Bundy. He has similar looks and is an underrated actor. I doubt if they could find a better actor to play this particular role.

In this day-and-age, it's nice to see a movie in which the cops are portrayed as tough but fair and likable. In this case, the two main ones are played by Frederick Forest (Apocalypse Now )and John Ashton (Midnight Run). Since it was made for television in the 1980s, the movie has little profanity and blood. Most of the time, the violence is implied. It's still chilling in parts. We don't always need CSI-type blood and guts to get the point.

What they missed, however, was WHY Bundy did the things he did. They had time to develop that angle, but never touched it. Supposedly, violent pornography had something to do with his behavior, but nothing was explored in this film. Overall, it was still an interesting story and amazing how many people he fooled and how he could escape twice after being arrested. Good story.

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.

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.