NO MAN OF GOD

US, 2021, 100 minutes, Colour.

Elijah Wood, Luke Kirby, Aleksa Palladino, Robert Patrick, W. Earl Brown, Christian Clementson.

Directed by Amber Searley.

This is one of the many films about serial killer, Ted Bundy. There were documentaries before his execution in 1989. There were documentary investigations by writer-director, Joe Bellinger (who then made the feature film Extremely Wicked,  Shockingly Evil and Vile).. In the 2000s there seemed to be an appetite in the television watching public for dramas about serial killers including Bundy.

This film is based on records of interviews with Bundy. It opens with an outline of his life, the crimes, his being in prison, his attitude towards the media… italso indicates his execution in 1989.

In the mid-80s, the FBI was developing profiling. Bill Hagmaier was one of the young experts and took on the interrogation and profiling of Bundy. The film is mainly a sequence of the interviews, initial suspicions, Bundy manipulating, Hagmaier’s responses, increasing openness and discussion, Bundy’s self-defence, self-promotion, something of a friendship, but Hagmaier’s constant belief in Bundy’s guilt.

Elijah Wood is the surprising casting as Bill Hagmaier. However, the performance by Luke Kirby as Bundy is extraordinary, smooth and narcissistic, often erratic and overpowering.

The film ends with Bundy’s execution, the final discussions between the two, Bundy’s admissions, head shaved, preparing for execution – and, with various political complications, Hagmaier not permitted to attend the execution.

Those interested in Bundy, Bellinger’s documentaries and his feature film are well worth seeing in connection with this film.

1. The title? The focus on serial killer, Theodore “Ted” Bundy?
2. The film reminding audiences of Bundy, the television news prologue announcing his execution after eight years in prison, memories of his crimes, his public personality, media?
3. The focus of the FBI, investigations of crimes are across states, the interest in Bundy, the 1980s, the Reagan era, the interest in profiling? The headquarters, the five men chosen, the briefing with the head, the issue of Bundy, Bill Hagmeier accepting the challenge?
4. Bill Hagmeier, Elijah Wood’s presence and performance? His family background? As training, psychology interest?
5. The bulk of the film as conversations between Bundy and Hagmeier, the transcripts, extensive, over five years, their being organised for dramatic purposes? The effect of watching Bundy and Hagmeier and their interactions, psychological interactions, game players, bonding, admissions, friendship? All
6. Luke Kirby, his performance as Ted Bundy, intense, the surface charm, the inner drives, manipulation, narcissistic, psychopathic attitudes, his past in controlling interviews, his interest in profiling, especially The Green River murders, the initial response to Hagmeier, his writing Bundy letters, Bundy setting out his limits, but relenting? Tape on, tape off? The intensity of the discussions, the revelations about Bundy’s psyche, his behaviour, family relationships, attitude towards the women killed, his brutality? The cumulative effect of the discussions, Hagmeier finally telling Bundy that his motivation for killing is because he wanted to?
7. The encounter with the warden, over the years, sympathy, lack of sympathy, the message about not attending the execution?
8. The passing of the years, the effective selection of the conversations and the cumulative effect? On Bundy and his admissions, secrecy, confiding in Hagmeier, taunting him that he could be, in other circumstances, the same as Bundy (and the glimpses of Hagmeier driving his car and looking at the woman…)? The effect on Hagmeier, understanding Bundy? Reporting to his head?
9. 1989, on death row, the governor’s suddenly signing the death warrant, the short time for appeal? His lawyer, her hostility towards Hagmeier, her tactics? The introduction of the church minister, the discussions, Bundy confiding in him, then the revelation that the governor had no intention of changing?
10. The pressure on Hagmeier, knowing that Bundy was guilty, observing the tactics of the lawyer, the religious interview, the appeals, knowing that the decision came down to him because of his knowledge of Bundy? His decision?
11. Bundy at the end, head shaved, the Bible, the talking with Hagmeier, the admissions, Hagmeier wanting families to have some satisfaction of knowing that he admitted his guilt? Some of the stories and the details? Then his being refused a seat at the execution?
12. The consequent information about Hagmeier and his talent and skills and reputation for profiling?