Shadow Ted Bundy: True Crime Story of the Handsome Stranger

Ted Bundy is still in the heat of the 21st century, even though he died over 20 years ago, but the question remains why is Bundy still a fascination to many today? Why is society so fascinated by serial killers?

One significant fascination is how serial killers possibly started, which takes to the start of the industrialization of cities. We began by living in small close communities where everyone knew each other, but as cities started to take over, people became strangers. Then people were in a compacted area under decay and poverty, leading to crime. Another factor was the impact of the media. Netflix came out with a series with the confession tapes of Ted Bundy and then released a movie about Ted Bundy featuring Zac Efron. In the US, at least, people are fascinated with crime shows, and Netflix wanted to capitalize on people's love for shows like CSI and Law and Order. As mentioned, Dahmer has also came out with a new show that tells his proper side of the story. Like Bundy's movie, it has taken off and the numbers the show has created doubled upon airing. Though people have looked at Dahmer with too many rose-colored lenses, as audience members seem to over-glorify Dahmer as they did Bundy and treat both killers more fiction related, like Pennywise or Micheal Myers. The victims of these families come out and are rightfully outraged by the success of the shows, as their loved-ones tragic deaths are broadcasted to screens all over the world as forms of entertainment.

There's a sociological perception of why society has such a deep fascination with serial killers and crime; as a society, we are shocked by the actions of a killer like Bundy and Dahmer. Shows and movies like these give us a view into our world's decaying reality as we see the darker side of humanity. We like to look at what went wrong in that person's life that could bring them to do such horrible things to others. But the question remains: Are streaming services like Netflix spreading awareness or commercializing it?