Ted K is an intimate portrait of dangerous and reclusive figures who at the end of it all became the longest-running terrorist investigation by the American FBI. Over a twenty-five year period, Theodore Kaczynski, also known as the ‘Unabomber,’ caused deaths and injuries through complex mail bombs. Sharlto Copley played Kaczynski from 1971 to late 1990s when he was caught. The movie was shot partly on his Montana acres and used some dialogue from his prolific writings. It presents a repugnant picture of an educated but hateful and misogynistic loner who took pleasure in murder.
Ted K takes off in remote Lincoln, Montana. However, this time Theodore (Copley) is seen shouting at snowmobiles disturbing his tranquility with their irritating noises within the pristine wilderness. He has a strong hatred for modern technology as well. Damaging cabins near him belonging to rich neighbors and equipment owned by logging companies. This is where he bemoans against society bitterly while speaking to himself .He types coded journals in his small shack cursing humanity over radio news feeds. Kaczynski makes several phone calls; one to his brother and another to their mother after dropping into telephone booths throughout town center begging for money while condemning their lives as pawns within an evil system.
We see Kaczynski perfecting bombs through practice and experimentation. Once in a while, he does casual jobs so that no one can suspect him buying harmless-looking electronics used on such bombs either directly or stealing them when the opportunity comes knocking at his door. A Harvard mathematician,Kaczynski takes great pains to hide his identity from the authorities. He enjoys being widely recognized during this bomb spree. Ted K wants this deadly belief covered everywhere. He taunts the FBI but gives contrasting instructions about major news outlets trailing behind him following a violent path.
South African actor Sharlto Copley hovers over a precipice of anger that is about to explode. Kaczynski is obsessed with every bit of insult or injustice he perceives. Nature’s solitude is his only refuge. But that solitude gets interrupted by the noises of men’s machines. The film also deliberately goes into his case of sexual frustration. Kaczynski was a misogynistic man who did not respect women in any way. A scene worth reflecting on has him shouting furiously about being sexually inactive. He devoted all his negative energy to creating more deadly devices.
Cinematographer turned director Tony Stone (Peter and the Farm) uses aggressive tactics to show Kaczynski’s unstable behavior. Ted K is no Henry David Thoreau walking through nature calmly documenting it. Throughout this primitive lifestyle of Kaczynski as a survivalist, there have been disturbing sounds accompanying it. The racket includes incompatible classical music, opera, and machine buzzes. The screen changes to blood red when Kaczynski starts planning his next targets.Stone also illustrates some strange nightmares which are listed in some of his diaries.
In addition, reliance on voice-over narration becomes tedious towards the end 0f Ted K’s movie. The script frames his state of mind using the words of Theodore J.Kaczynki himself.His homicidal intent and calculating personality are revealed at first Several scenes needed to be crafted as ways to display what was in his mind; rather than always exposits for audience benefit.Normally, after all this bluffing; the voice-over dialogues seem less intimidating. Ted K worked best when we could see him interacting dispassionately with everything around him & even himself. Kacynzski portrayed himself as normal while scouting for victims because he was psychopath.
One cannot watch the film without seeing Sharlto Copley in almost every shot. He can capture the chilling aspects of an unfeeling person. I was worried that Ted K might give some pity to a brutal murderer. It does not endorse the Unabomber.
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