Watch Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes

Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes is a true crime docuseries released on Netflix in 2019. The show depicts the shocking and controversial story of one of America's most notorious serial killers, Ted Bundy. The docuseries is based around tapes that were recorded while Ted Bundy was on death row, shortly before his execution in 1989.

The series features several renowned experts on serial killers, crime and law enforcement, including Stephen Michaud, Bob Keppel and Kathleen McChesney. Michaud and Keppel were involved in interviews with Bundy during his time in prison, as both men attempted to understand the mind of a serial killer through direct interactions with Bundy. McChesney is a former FBI agent who provides valuable insight into how the Bureau investigated the murders that Bundy committed.

The series is directed by Joe Berlinger, who also directed the movie Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, which is a biographical crime thriller about Bundy. Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes includes four episodes, each about an hour long.

The series takes a unique approach to retelling Bundy's story by focusing on the tapes that were recorded during his confinement. These tapes were kept under lock and key for over 30 years before being handed over to Berlinger for the purpose of creating the docuseries. The tapes became the starting point for the series and influenced its format, as Bundy's first-person accounts are used to narrate and guide the viewer through his heinous crimes.

Throughout the episodes, we hear Bundy's voice as he reflects on his life and the crimes he committed. Bundy was a master manipulator, using his good looks and charm to lure young women to their deaths. The series features harrowing interviews with other survivors, witnesses, and investigators. The interviews provide a chilling insight into the events that took place and how Bundy carried out his crimes.

One of the most compelling aspects of the series is the authenticity of the interviews. It is notable that Berlinger allowed Bundy to tell his own story without any reuse of his footage in other interviews or analysis. Instead, Berlinger focuses on the tapes and the emotion and descriptions used by the killer. Bundy narrates the story as if it were a novel, with detail and intelligence.

However, while the series is largely driven by Bundy's narration, it is not a sympathetic portrayal of the killer. Instead, the show provides a sobering view of Bundy's crimes and their wider impact on society. The series incorporates footage of protests that occurred outside the courthouse during Bundy's trials in the 1970s, demonstrating the public's outrage and concern for justice. This public outcry led to more stringent measures in the pursuit and prosecution of serial killers

Overall, Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes is a gripping and fascinating series that takes a different approach to the portrayal of a notorious killer. The show succeeds by providing a broader context to Bundy’s story through interviews with survivors, law enforcement officials, and his own words. It’s a chilling reminder of the damage that one person can inflict and holds valuable insights for anybody fascinated by true crime.

Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (4 episodes). The series first aired on January 24, 2019.