Setting the seventies timeframe very effectively with an overabundance of polyester, pull-top beers and huge prescription glasses, The Black Mass takes in a 24-hour period in the life of serial killer Ted Bundy. It has a lo-fi look with muted colours and low light settings that perfectly compliments the grotty nature of the story.
Bundy was one of the US’s most prolific serial killers and the true number of his victims will never be known after his execution by electrocution in 1989 in a Florida State Prison at the age of 42. His intelligence and good looks were advantages to him in securing his victims but this film plays against that perception.
The Bundy character (called Patrick in this work) is played by Jeremy London as an awkward and socially inept person. His attempts at human connection always come up short and his anger is obvious. There are also a number of unsettling scenes where he fantasises about what violent actions he will take when he secures his next victim.
Knowing what Bundy actually did and was capable of gives the entire viewing experience an overview of creepiness and impending peril and when the violence comes, it is downplayed and delivered with a matter-of-fact approach that only heightens the horror. It all seems so senseless as the actions of serial killers often are. Even if you know some or all of the details of Bundy’s crimes, The Black Mass will still disturb and appal you.
The Black Mass is now available on DVD and digital platforms such as Apple TV, Google Play, and Prime Video in Australia and New Zealand.
Rob Hudson
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