Movie review
May 2, 2019 · 111 min · R
Woke Score
Lower is better
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.
Woke representation / casting
Casting uses actors who match the real historical figures and 1970s–1980s Pacific Northwest setting with no audience-visible diversity signaling or mismatches.
Woke political dialogue
The story contains no political speeches, activist language, or ideological arguments.
Identity-driven story themes
The narrative centers on one woman’s personal denial and betrayal in a specific real-life relationship; it does not explore identity, gender politics, or representation themes.
Western institutional / cultural critique
The film shows historical police and media shortcomings in catching Bundy due to his charm and appearance, but presents this as case-specific fact rather than modern systemic or activist critique.
Review
The 2019 film tells the true story of serial killer Ted Bundy through the eyes of his longtime girlfriend Elizabeth Kloepfer, who stayed in denial about his crimes for years. It follows their relationship, his arrests, trials, and charm offensive while showing her growing suspicions and ultimate confrontation. The movie sticks to events from her real memoir with straightforward historical storytelling and no modern activist framing, identity themes, or political messaging of any kind.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant; the film adapts real events and the girlfriend’s memoir without altering historical figures or adding invented ideological elements.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
No documented right-leaning or anti-woke complaints that the film promotes woke, DEI, or identity politics messaging; all controversy focused on true-crime perspective and humanization concerns instead.
Creator track record context
Director Joe Berlinger has built a body of documentary work around justice reform and social issues, yet the writers, producers, and this specific narrative project show no pattern of identity-driven or activist framing.
Production
