Watch Ann Rule Presents: The Stranger Beside Me

Ann Rule Presents: The Stranger Beside Me is a gripping made-for-TV movie released in 2003 which is based on Ann Rule's bestselling memoir and stars Billy Campbell, Barbara Hershey, and Suki Kaiser in leading roles. The movie revolves around the story of a notorious criminal, Ted Bundy, and his unlikely relationship with Ann Rule, who was once his colleague and friend.

The Stranger Beside Me begins with Ann Rule's early days as a struggling single mother writer in Seattle. She takes a job at a crisis hotline and meets Ted Bundy, a charismatic law student who volunteers for the same crisis center. Though Rule is initially hesitant to accept his help, she feels grateful for the extra hands and begins working closely with Ted.

As the movie progresses, the audience sees the seemingly charming and confident Bundy slowly revealing his dark side, committing brutal murders of young women across several states. Rule is initially horrified after hearing about these crimes but is convinced of Bundy's innocence, as he is her trusted friend with whom she even shared a workplace for a few years.

But as the mounting evidence and testimonies points towards Bundy, Ann Rule helps in the police investigation, leading to Bundy's eventual capture and trial. What's more shocking is that even after his arrest, Rule continues to correspond with Bundy, attempting to understand the psyche of a killer.

The film takes the audience through a series of flashback scenes, some of which are very disturbing, depicting Bundy's heinous crimes in great detail. Throughout the movie, the sense of dread and foreboding lingers as Bundy's charm and cleverness keep him out of trouble and close to Rule, despite his criminal acts.

Credit must be given to the actors' performances which are incredible, as they successfully capture the personalities of the real-life figures they are portraying. Billy Campbell portrays Bundy's dual personality well, from his allure to his sinister and depraved tendencies while Barbara Hershey embodies Ann Rule's empathy and her attempts to make sense of her shocking past.

The soundtrack of The Stranger Beside Me is also worth mentioning, as it always manages to reflect the mood of the film, whether it's the tense moment when the killer's identity is first revealed, or the sorrow that Rule feels as she realizes the awful truth of who Ted Bundy really is.

In conclusion, Ann Rule Presents: The Stranger Beside Me is a well-executed movie, albeit a disturbing one. It's an intense drama that will keep viewers hooked from start to finish. If you are into true-crime stories or are interested in Ted Bundy, then this movie is a must-watch. It's a haunting reminder that killers come in all shapes and forms, and sometimes the person closest to us is the most dangerous one.

Ann Rule Presents: The Stranger Beside Me is a 2003 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1.