Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes
Updated: Nov 23, 2022
(available on Netflix)
Warning: Graphic descriptions of crimes against women
FTC Rating: 3 out of 5
On a career making assignment, journalists Stephen Michaud and Hugh Aynesworth collect 100 hours of recorded conversations with America’s notorious serial killer, Theodore Robert Bundy. This four-part docuseries recounts the horrific story through multiple key interviews, peppered with voice clips spoken by the monster responsible.
Strengths:
-Features extensive coverage of Ted Bundy’s background, crimes, trials, and execution
-Tapes are complimented with interviews, either validating or contradicting Ted Bundy’s account of events
-Good overview of the police investigations
-Fans of “Mindhunter” will enjoy the segments with FBI Agent, Bill Hagmaier in episode four
Weaknesses:
-The quick cuts between images present a stylized approach to the content but adds more “flash” than substance.
-With all the hours of recorded tapes with Ted Bundy, I would have expected a greater number of voice clips and less superficial selections (perhaps this was intentional)
Final Thoughts:
-I have asked myself numerous times, after all the damage done by Ted Bundy, if it was necessary to give him another platform (even after his death) to express himself? This is the reason why I preferred “Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer”. However, the tapes are quite curious for someone fascinated by True Crime.
-There is significant overlap between "Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes" and "Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer". Unless you are extremely interested in Ted Bundy, I would suggest choosing one of the two docuseries.
