No Man of God Review
No Man of God (2021) Film Review, a movie directed by Amber Sealey and starring Elijah Wood, Luke Kirby, Robert Patrick, Aleksa Palladino, Christian Clemenson, Mac Brandt, Hugo Armstrong, Emily Berry, Will Harris, Gilbert Owuor, Jessica Lynn Skinner, Nican Robinson, Allison Baver, John Wilcox, Kate Adams, Richard Blackmon, Steven Pritchard and David Salsa.
No Man of God is the new film about the relationship between a young FBI agent and serial killer Ted Bundy during Bundy’s last years on Death Row. During the early scenes of director Amber Sealey’s leisurely paced dramatic film, Luke Kirby (as Bundy) is the one the audience watches as Kirby gives a vivid, strong performance as the man who was responsible for many horrific deaths of young women. But, towards the end, the movie flips the script becoming the FBI agent’s story instead. Elijah Wood portrays the FBI man named Bill Hagmaier in such a way that the audience can understand his fascination with Bundy. That fascination corresponds with thoughts of disgust as well. Wood’s multi-faceted turn is the reason to see the picture.
As the film’s main story begins, Hagmaier’s superior Roger Depue (Robert Patrick) assigns some agents criminals to profile. Hagmaier chooses Ted Bundy to the surprise of Depue who reminds Hagmaier that Bundy hasn’t spoken to anyone and will likely not talk to Hagmaier. Much to everyone’s surprise, Bundy agrees to share details about his past to Hagmaier but the tape recordings of the conversations must be stopped whenever Bundy says so. Hagmaier agrees and the story slowly plays out as Elijah Wood’s Hagmaier and Luke Kirby’s Bundy find out that they may have more in common than they originally thought.
Wood and Kirby share some great scenes together as Hagmaier starts to even go as far as relating to Bundy stories about his young child. Bundy and Hagmaier seem to form a bond but this bond will most likely not save Bundy from execution as Hagmaier starts to see that there is a huge difference between the two of them. In a race against time, it ultimately comes down to Hagmaier’s own belief as to whether or not Bundy is crazy that will determine the serial killer’s final fate. Whether or not he should be put to death becomes a question that lawyer Carolyn Lieberman (the excellent Aleksa Palladino) debates with Hagmaier late in the film in a terrific scene.
Luke Kirby chews up his scenes in the earlier part of the film making the serial killer seem somewhat normal at first before revealing his true deranged nature in the latter part of the film. Consequently, Wood’s FBI agent is really just a listener in the beginning. He is there to see what he can learn from Bundy so he can learn the profile of someone who will become a serial killer. However, as the film progresses, Wood’s characterization becomes more complex as Hagmaier starts seeing the ugly truth about Bundy and what, exactly, makes Bundy much different from himself. Besides the obvious killings, Bundy had intelligence that seemed (on the surface) to make him a man much similar to Hagmaier (if not even smarter than him) but the film reveals the differences between the two men and why one of these men is being put to death.
Wood, in the latter stages of the film, is simply brilliant. His character has the ultimate decision as to whether or not Bundy will die sooner rather than later and despite any bond Hagmaier has formed with Bundy, the FBI agent must choose what is right and just in this case. And, there’s only one answer here. Hagmaier later went on to be one of the most renowned FBI profilers of all time.
Amber Sealey’s film moves slowly in the beginning but as it moves on, it becomes more complex and interesting. Wood’s performance is a big reason why as the character he plays is well developed and becomes more intriguing as the movie progresses. At the same time, Kirby’s Bundy becomes less interesting towards the end and was much more fascinating to watch in the early stages of the film. Perhaps that’s because Bundy wasn’t as complex as he initially seemed and was merely just a psychopath with a little bit of intelligence backing him up. Nevertheless, Kirby acquits himself admirably in the difficult role of Bundy.
No Man of God ultimately becomes Elijah Wood’s film and he is definitely one of the finest young actors working today. He single-handedly makes this film worth a look. Whenever the film seems to be turning into just another TV movie, Wood elevates the material and makes the movie a winner.
Rating: 7/10
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