No Man of God (2021) User Reviews

A different angle.

[ocosis · 6/10 · 28 August 2021]

Luke Kirby's portrayal of Ted Bundy was exceptional. I literally felt like I was watching Bundy at many points. And this made No Man Of God all the more believable, as a documentation of some of the notorious killer's final prison conversations.

Kudos.

Solid acting

[plutonium1987 · 6/10 · 27 August 2021]

I think the main actors did a really good job, especially the Ted Bundy look-a-like. However the movie plot is somewhat weak and lacking the crescendo it was building up for.

All in all it was worth a watch for sure - but I'll probably not ever watch it again.

A different perspective on a rather known case

[BodhisattyaPal · 7/10 · 27 August 2021]

I didn't watch any of the early films on Ted Bundy; so I can't tell if this movie has anything further to offer or not! But I can definitely tell that this Amber Sealey directorial is a serious & authentic take on the famous serial killing case by Bundy.

To be precise, this movie is hardly about Bundy's charismatic crimes or the trial process; actually it's about his unusual relationship with FBI Special Agent Bill Hagmaier in his final days before execution. I find this perspective of storytelling convincing enough to try once & I can say that this is a decent work.

A solid two men performance from Elijah Wood and Luke Kirby, an eerie score & an engaging enough screenplay made No Man of God a gripping watch. The movie didn't require many gruesome crime flashbacks as some dialogues were so well written & powerful that it gave a more prominent visual. I found some moments exceptional; especially that tv interview scene & when we can see the amalgamation between Ted & Hagmaier's character. Overall No Man of God deserves your attention for some real good reasons.

Refreshing

[Gordon-11 · 28 August 2021]

This film depicts human interaction between two unlikely people. Instead of treating him badly or having any presuppositions regarding the interviewee, the agent manages to be a person who is really there to listen. It is a refreshing change of perspective.

Bill & Ted

[danieltucher · 7/10 · 1 September 2021]

While we've seen quite a bit of Tewd Bundy in the last few years, "No Man of God" does offer an interesting take on his story.

Playing out more like a very intimate stage play, there is not much action to be had. It's mostly dialogue scenes.

Luckily the acting is pretty strong, especially Luke Kirby, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Ted Bundy in terms of look and mannerism.

I quite enjoyed this film, though it might be a bit too uneventful for some.

Luke Kirby was excellent

[oceanviewhouse · 7/10 · 1 September 2021]

Bundy's story has been told. This was good. Different.

interesting performance

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 14 October 2021]

FBI agent Bill Hagmaier (Elijah Wood) interviews serial killer Ted Bundy (Luke Kirby) who is on death row.

This movie has limited tension. In the first part of this, Bill really has no specific goal other than just talking with Bundy. He is only in danger of getting killed by the mass murderer. He needs a specific goal but his mission is specifically goalless. It's an interesting performance from Luke Kirby. There isn't much in terms of plot. They do introduce a ticking clock in the last section but the stakes are never elevated. If they need to give peace to these families, then they should have somebody show how troubled they are. They need to elevate the intensity.

Good movie for what it is

[losblancos13 · 7/10 · 27 August 2021]

For what the movie is and considering its budget, it was good throughout, however not a movie for those who love fast paced movies packing lots of action.

Great screenplay writing from Robert Cargill especially for his first solo.

Acting can't be faulted.

7.5/10.

An interesting new look at one of Americas most famous serial killers

[onethoestel · 8/10 · 28 August 2021]

Based upon real recordings, tells the story of interviews between an FBI profiler and Ted Bundy in his final years.

Ted Bundy is one of the most notorious serial killers in history. There have been numerous books and films about him. It almost feels like there is an oversaturation of Ted Bundy in the past couple of years. Many past adaptations of his life seem to cover the same key points, his killings, and his trial. No Man of God decides to take a different approach to Bundy. This film decides to take Bundy in a more intimate and chilling environment as he is waiting for his execution. No Man of God is the most chilling adaptation of the notorious serial killer.

On the surface of No Man of God, its two men sitting in a room talking to each other. However, this film is more than that. No Man of God is an intricate battle of wits. If you are someone who loves Netflix's Mindhunter, you are going to love this movie. The dialog is complex and fascinating. I was left on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to be said next. Furthermore, the way this film portrayed the complicated relationship between Agent Hagmaier and Bundy was fascinating to watch. You see the mental turmoil that Hagmaier is going through by having numerous conversations with Bundy feels grounded. At the end of the film, you ponder who influenced who. Amber Sealey has brought to life the most grounded and fascinating look into Ted Bundy.

With the majority of this film being in a single setting, the acting really shines through and carries this film. Elijah Wood and Luke Kirby give powerhouse performances. This is some of the best work I've seen from both actors. The pair had excellent chemistry with one another. Wood masterfully shows the eager FBI analyst who wants to learn from Bundy while also being torn apart by interacting with him. The emotional turmoil of interacting with Bundy and trying to keep faith in your religion Wood pulls off perfectly. Kirby is chilling as Ted Bundy. He pulls off the perfect balance between charming, intelligent, and creepy perfectly. Kirby's gives the best adaptation of Bundy that I've seen in film.

For this being an independent film, this film looks gorgeous. Every shot you feel the eeriness of Ted Bundy around you. Furthermore, this film has a lot of really unique shots that are masterfully edited together. My only complaint with this film is that there is one scene at the end that feels out of place with the rest of the film. If you watch the film, you will know the scene that I am talking about. Other than that I heavily enjoyed this film.

All in all, No Man of God is a complete package. This film has excellent directing, writing, and acting that will leave you questioning your humanity. Furthermore, you may not learn anything new about Bundy, but the film provides a fascinating psychological look into the notorious serial killer.

I am giving No Man of God, an A-.

Superficial but Intriguing

[Dhanijel · 7/10 · 27 August 2021]

Ted Bundy is probably known by most people if they have any interest in true crime/serial killers and most likely have watched or read documentaries, so don't expect to learn anything different from this movie that you most likely didn't know from before since it never really dig into the crimes per se but is more about the interaction between Ted and Bill. It's a good movie and Luke Kirby does an excellent job portraying Ted Bundy, it keeps you invested and you'll want to keep watching to see what Ted has to say. Even if in the end you never learn much about the psyche about a serial killers mind other then "Because you wanted to". There's a somewhat strange sequence in the movie where Ted takes Bill on a journey of one of his killings but it's way too artificial dramatized with quick cuts between Ted and Bill without really saying much other then that Ted enjoyed doing what he did. I would say that what really makes the movie is Luke Kirby's portrayal since he makes you feel like it's Ted Bundy present. I would say it's like a longer episode of Mind Hunter and keeps the same quality. It's just quality film making and worth your time to watch if you have any interest in this subject, just don't expect to learn something extraordinary. Which is a shame since it seems like Ted opened up to Bill in real life and you would expect that Bill would had learned something more and that this movie would have used that information that might not have been that publicly known. I would had liked a bit more of a clinical analyzes of the mind of Ted Bundy then this movie could offer even if the portrayal of Luke was pretty telling what kind of a person Ted was, a weak egotistical psychopath who probably didn't feel remorse a second in his life for what he did. Well worth a watch.

Starts Out Interesting But Descends Into Messiness

[zkonedog · 5/10 · 4 September 2021]

As one of the most notorious serial killers of all time, Ted Bundy is a figure who will always attract fascination/interest. "No Man of God" tries to tap into some of that historical and psychological intrigue, but ultimately ends up short of the mark due to a lack of focus on any specific topic or theme.

For a very basic overview, this film focuses on the late-1980s relationship between the incarcerated Bundy (Luke Kirby) and young FBI agent Bill Hagmaier (Elijah Wood) working in the relatively new "profiling" division. Over time, the pairing form a bit of a bond (each in the other's head) that perpetuates a sort of psychological back-and-forth right up to Bundy's execution date (and perhaps even beyond).

There are certainly some well-done and interesting aspects of "No Man of God". The late-80s overall aesthetic is winning, Kirby & Wood have solid on-screen chemistry and give great performances (especially when they are allowed to really let loose), and the first 30-or-so minutes hold great promise in a "where is this going to go?" sort of appeal.

Unfortunately, the air is slowly let out of the balloon as the film reaches its middle and then climax, suffocating under the weight of a number of problems...

-There's no context given to Bundy whatsoever. If you don't know anything about him, he might as well be "just another serial killer bad guy". Thus, when the film uses real historical footage to try to hit home how big of a deal his case was in the 80s, that lack of information about him sort of undercuts the message.

-The movie doesn't really stand for anything, or have a coherent theme. Is it about the FBI's profiling division? Bundy's psyche? Hagmaier's progress where other G-men before him failed? Throughout, the filmmakers try to connect some dots on the concepts of the thin line between madness & sanity, but in the end I was left feeling more along the lines of "what did it all mean?", and not in the good/mysterious way.

Finally, simply put: this entire "FBI profiler interviewing serial concept" was perfected by the "Mindhunter" series, which does it to far greater effect than anything seen here. Many overlapping concepts, but that series created the atmospheric tension, context, and character-building that "No Man of God" severely lacks.

So, while not ever completely turned off during the viewing experience, my enjoyment waned pretty much from beginning to end. After the major concepts/conceits are introduced, the execution just doesn't live up to those goals in any appreciable way.

Luke Kirby was amazing! What a great performance!

[byasmin88 · 8/10 · 27 August 2021]

Overall its good - i enjoyed it! I think the story could have included more details about Ted Bundy's background and family issues.

Engaging but not effective.

[akellashashank · 6/10 · 27 August 2021]

Amber Sealey's No man of god focus is more on Ted bundy and FBI agent bill's relation rather than the crimes he committed. This one is nowhere close to the level of Mindhunter series probing tactics, as this one lacks that striking or engrossing conversations to tuck in. I read and aware of the fact that, director wanted to give this flick a different touch by being grounded and emphasizing more on Bill - Ted bonding , I get it and appreciate Amber for churning it out the way she wanted , however barring final 20 minutes and couple of scenes in the middle, failed to pack a punch.

Eerie and haunting score. Both Elijah Wood and Luke Kirby performances made me sit through till the end, especially Luke as Ted is incredible. In the last act, Luke showed his rage and changed the momentum, had they maintained the similar tone in the earlier acts, this one would've been a crazy ride. Best scene for me in the movie is the one where Bill and Ted completely gets into some zone while unraveling the info and this is where the movie reaches it peak. It is engaging but not effective. Overall, decent- good watch!!

Ponderous

[Leofwine_draca · 5/10 · 17 December 2021]

One of those two-hander type films built around a conversation taking place between a couple of guys. It's not the most involving or exciting premise and having seen a good Ted Bundy documentary series on Netflix really, I felt this didn't have much to offer. There's no faulting the quality of the acting from the reliable Elijah Wood and Luke Kirby opposite him, but the whole thing is a little staid and ponderous.

Factual dramatization of Ted Bundy's last few years in prison.

[TxMike · 12 November 2021]

As a person of the 1960s and 1970s I of course knew of Ted Bundy but never took the time to dig deeper into his story. Elijah Wood plays the FBI agent who spends time over several years with Bundy as part of a larger new initiative developing tools for profiling killers. Luke Kirby is really great in the Bundy role, I found myself almost believing I was seeing Bundy himself.

This is a good movie in that it is well made and gripping, especially the last half hour or so. But it is not a good story, a serial killer who by his own admission had at least 30 victims. Why did he do them? Because he wanted to.

On DVD from my public library. My wife skipped, not in the mood for this type of movie.

Got less than I wanted

[kuarinofu · 7/10 · 29 August 2021]

No Man of God is a good film.

They tried a different take and I enjoyed it. The acting was great, the actor who played T was a pleasure to watch, a captivating performance. Wood was interested yet a little confused, as always.

The problem with the film was that it felt like the biggest and the most interesting chunk of it was missing. They jump to being 'friends' too fast. They didn't want the film to drag and feel boring, but in these types of films, the forming of a bond is the most interesting part. I can listen to the interesting dialogue, it's no problem.

Overall, good take, great acting, but they stopped just a little short of being great.

Interesting film, headed by two great performances

[bakergarrett · 6/10 · 9 September 2021]

No Man of God manages to be an interesting movie in the sea of media based on serial killers. This is mostly due to the two leads performances.

Luke Kirby puts himself on the map with a sinister and haunting performance as Ted Bundy, while Elijah Wood crushes it as usual as the cautious and wide eyed FBI agent that interviews Bundy. My biggest problem with the films shot selection is a bit basic, as it really seems the director just let the actors sorta do there thing. Still this movie is very good.

Chilling.

[kenzibit · 6/10 · 30 August 2021]

Solid performances with chilling dialogues.... This have some uncomfortable revelations and makes you wonder why a person could do this. Can be a painful watch but worth it.

Feels like an unaired episode of Mindhunter

[maccas-56367 · 6/10 · 19 January 2022]

In some ways, this felt like an unaired episode of Mindhunter - though it lacked the polish of that show.

Luke Kirby delivers the most authentic portrayal of Ted Bundy on film. He not only eerily resembled Bundy, but had his mannerisms and speech down too. His chemistry with Elijah Wood as FBI agent Bill Hagmeier was solid, though the film didn't offer much more than that.

It was literally just two guys talking at a table, without any real startling or dramatic conclusions or observations. Various montages occasionally interrupted proceedings, but they felt cheap and jarring in style.

While No Man of God may fill the void for those missing the likes of Mindhunter, it fails to deliver the impact needed. It could have been so much more. Instead, despite strong performances, it will no doubt be relegated to just another entry in the already over-populated Bundy film canon.

Perfect Casting And A Good Film

[damianphelps · 8/10 · 22 September 2021]

Provides the movie experience you would expect.

Its attempting to show a more intimate aspect to the Bundy story rather than all the sensational bits. This is not 'NBK', its quiet, considered and entertaining minus any glorification.

My wife and I had a good time watching this :)

The Ted and Bill Show

[gedikreverdi · 7/10 · 3 September 2021]

It was good that they didn't make him look like a very charming and charismatic godlike predator. Instead they showed how vulnerable and confused he got toward the final moment. I really like Elijah Wood so I wanted to give it a watch and didn't get disappointed. I think Carolyn was in love with him and she was just not bold enough to accept that. They didn't share any graphic details about the murders of these women unlike most real crime films and TV shows. After all Bill the profiler agent didn't get to watch him die and called his home instead. It impressed me how they shaved their head to prepare him to get killed in a brutal way like he did to his victims. And in conclusion, the motive? He did it because he wanted to.

2 actors being actorly

[stusby · 4/10 · 27 March 2022]

Yet another real-life criminal given a portrayal at the expense of his victims, their friends and families.

The last days of Ted Bundy skim over the genuine suffering he caused while making him look so much like a victim.

For me, this is summed up in the usual head-shaving scene before being electrocuted in a drama clearly aiming for realism, no mention of the diaper the condemned have to wear. Nothing squalid to tarnish the presentation of a notorious criminal.

Once again another disgusting, vicious criminal dies on screen in glory.

The portrayal of Hagmaier is interesting but really doesn't convince.

Wow

[billcr12 · 9/10 · 29 August 2021]

I am a Ted Bundy aficionado, having read 12 books from Ann Rule's to anything I can find out there and this is a mesmerizing recreation of the interviews between Ted and FBI agent Bill Hagmeier. Elijah Wood is the lawman and Luke Kirby is the notorious serial killer. I hope that he is nominated for an Oscar because he is that good. He nails Bundy's mannerisms and his scenes are unforgettable. Mark Harmon was good in the four hour tv miniseries in 1986 but it was more of a vanity role than Kirby's. Zac Efron was similar in style to Harmon but neither can hold a candle to Kirby's performance. No Man of God is almost a two man play with everyone else just extras. My best movie of the year so far.

Very Good

[atractiveeyes · 7/10 · 1 September 2021]

This is a very good decent phycological drama, based on an interesting true story. The screenplay is great and full of interesting powerful dialogues. It also nicely tackles serious topics. Performances by the two leads are superbly solid. My only issue with it is that it sometimes rushes and gets a bit superficial.

Falls Away

[gt1915 · 5/10 · 4 September 2021]

1st 35 mins are good then it falls away plus jumps in terms of the time line too. It could have been alot better but it just went from one scene to another without much development.

Acting was good but Wood is not so convincing. Luke plays the role very well.