Zac Efron Is Terrifying (and Charismatic) in Trailer for Upcoming Ted Bundy Film

When news broke in 2017 that Zac Efron would be taking on the role of Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, fans were inquisitive and excited. There isn’t a role that Efron touches that doesn’t turn to gold in some way, but to take on the role of a prolific serial killer was a different ballgame.

Would he be able to turn off that Efron charm? Would he be able to convince us that he was, in fact, a terrifying serial killer?

The answers to those questions and more have been revealed as the trailer for Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile aired just days ago.

Up to this point, we’ve seen stills of Efron as Ted Bundy and the resemblance was uncanny. It’s easy to see that he embodied the role to the best of his ability, down to the same eerie facial expressions. As we viewed the trailer for the first time, it became obvious that Efron adopted as much of Bundy’s person as possible, and all of his hard work paid off.

As we watch the trailer, it’s hard not to feel drawn to Efron, especially since we find him so likable in general. That is genuinely part of what makes him the perfect choice to play Ted Bundy. Those who knew Bundy would have never taken him for a serial killer, which is what Efron had to embody. The type of evil that lurks under the surface without ever breaking through at the wrong moment while the outside is packaged together with charisma, good looks, and the ability to draw everyone in without even trying.

There has been some criticism that the film is glorifying, and making the idea of a serial killer sexy, somehow. The truth is…part of the terrifying nature of evil like Ted Bundy is that he exists and he was all of those things that can easily seduce someone.

Joe Berlinger recently had this to say about the concerns that the film glorified Bundy.

“If you actually watch the movie, the last thing we’re doing is glorifying him. He gets his due at the end, but we’re portraying the experience of how one becomes a victim to that kind of psychopathic seduction.”

What do you think of Efron’s performance in the trailer? Are you looking forward to seeing him take on the role of Ted Bundy? Let us know.