New Ted Bundy Film, American Boogeyman, Is Out On Friday

Another day, another movie about famed serial killer Ted Bundy – and another heartthrob playing him. One Tree Hill’s Chad Michael Murray will be playing the creepy murderer in Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman, joining the likes of Mark Harmon, James Marsters, and Zac Efron, who have all played the role in the past.

The film will show Murray “hunting for his next prey” in a “gritty and decadent 1970s America” as detective Kathleen McChesney (Holland Roden) hunts him down with FBI profiler Robert Ressler (Jake Hays).

You can watch the trailer below:

The synopsis reads: “This is the true story behind the manhunt that brought America’s most fearsome boogieman to justice.”

Unlike other films about Bundy, this will equally split its focus between predator and prey, with Bundy being prey for the first time in his life. 

True crime buffs may already be aware of the Bundy case but here’s a refresher for those who don’t... Ted Bundy targeted young women in the seventies and confessed to at least 30 murders, but experts believe he may have murdered close to 100 women during his active years.

Fathom Events)

The true extent of his crimes are still unknown, as he was executed shortly after his confession, which is likely why Bundy is a great source of fascination for people even today.

This is the third Bundy-related release in the past two years, including Zac Efron’s Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile and Netflix’s Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes. 

Bundy was caught after his long-term girlfriend Elizabeth Kloepfer called the FBI to report Bundy’s suspicious activity. 

Many are understandably concerned by the focus on portraying Bundy as charming and attractive, or simply putting him in the limelight once again by releasing films such as American Boogeyman. Due to his horrific crimes, some suggest it is distasteful to appeal to this voyeuristic true crime genre while ignoring those who he killed.

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A DVD and video-on-demand release for American Boogeyman are set for September 3rd, but it is not yet clear which services will stream the film and how UK viewers will be able to watch it.

Topics: Ted Bundy, TV And Film

Michele Theil

Michele Theil is a freelance writer specialising in culture, lifestyle, women, LGBT+ issues, and race.

@micheletheil