Trailer for 'Charlie Says' has everyone saying it’s better than Zac Efron’s ‘Ted Bundy'

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The true crime horror story of the Manson Family is one of the most enduring of the 20th century.

Under the influence of a self-proclaimed Christ-like figure, Charles Manson, a group of young women committed a series of brutal murders in the summer of 1969 in a bid to start a race war he had dubbed 'Helter Skelter' after a skewed interpretation of the Beatles song.

While the story has been the subject of much fascination for decades, gaining renewed interest in 2017 in the wake of Manson's death, the majority of this interest has been focused around Manson himself and not the young women who chose to be a part of his family and, later, murder at his command.

A new true crime movie, however, aims to change that.

This is the trailer people are saying is better than Efron's interpretation of Ted Bundy:

Charlie Says, which stars Matt Smith, was screened at the Tribeca Film Festival last week and was released into theatres on May 10.

Unlike the recently released Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile starring Zac Effron, which chronicles the crimes of Ted Bundy based on his lover's memoir, this movie is based on a book by Karlene Faith, who worked with the Manson girls as a student during their therapy sessions in prison.

These sessions were ultimately instrumental in convincing them to move away from Manson's twisted dogma, which they remained committed to even when they were incarcerated.

Charles Manson and two of his followers.
Credit: 2009

Instead of focusing on the charm of Manson, as Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile does, its story gives viewers consistent reminders of the horrific crimes he inspired. And because of this, more focus is given to the women involved, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Leslie Van Houten.

Check out the trailer for 'Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile':

It provides a compelling account of the long-lasting effects of domestic abuse, something which resulted in their total adoration of Manson, even during the trial which saw them imprisoned for life.

Matt Smith as Charles Manson
Credit: 3023

"We show them as individuals in their journeys toward getting un-Charlied," its writer, Guinevere Turner, told Vanity Fair.

However, perhaps most interestingly of all is the fact that this film cannot be viewed in any one way.

Viewers of Efron's interpretation of Bundy are left with little more than a striking reminder of how he used his good looks and charm to do the unthinkable. But in Charlie Says, they are given a chance to look at the lesser explored grey area of his girls' crimes, which were the result of them being victims and monsters in their own right.

An interpretation made more poignant by the fact that Leslie Van Houten is up for her 22nd parole attempt this year.