Inside a Psychopath: A Review of the Ted Bundy Tapes

Have you ever laid in bed at night wondering if someone is watching you from your window? If a creep is stalking you? If your boyfriend is acting strange and might be a sociopath? Maybe it’s just me, but I have all of these thoughts on the daily, and my obsession with horror flicks and crime shows is NOT helping. So naturally, I decided to spend an entire day binge-watching Netflix’s new show, “Confessions of a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes,” trying to decipher the insanity of a serial killer.

The new docu-series takes a first-person view of Bundy’s prison confession and press interviews. Without giving any spoilers, we see an uncensored look into his strategy that captivated audiences and convinced the world he “didn’t fit the part.” The main message the show conveys is that although Ted did not physically fit anyone’s description of a cold-blooded killer, this is what made him the most dangerous. The show begins with the first disappearances in his (and my) native Washington state of college-aged women. This trend continues through his next locations, Utah and Florida, sparking one of the first national manhunts.

By listening to Bundy’s recorded interviews with the press, and those who assisted in the case, you learn about his upbringing and behavior. The way he viewed women and used them to exorcize his demons almost brings a dramatization of the trauma occurring in the 1970s. It wasn’t until his first prison escape that the FBI was recruited to help take down Bundy and end his terror. For any crime junky, this series shows a fascinating view of how much our justice system has changed and technology has improved. The original case from Washington took years to process, and facial recognition or DNA testing was entirely out of the question.

If you’re looking for an insider’s glimpse into the life of a killer, a time capsule of criminology, or a good procrastination show, you got one. The Ted Bundy Tapes are a captivating series of work, carefully explaining his mindset and the chase to find him. Although it might not be as entertaining as Trigger Warning with Killer Mike, or culturally relevant as the Fyre Fest documentaries, it’s a great watch.

COVER PHOTO: Twitter