Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Compelling deep dive into the mind of the Unabomber.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Ted K
What's the Story?
In TED K, Ted Kaczynski (Sharlto Copley) is living in a small 10-foot x 12-foot cabin in the woods of Montana. Agitated by the noise of passing planes and snowmobiles, he becomes more and more convinced that machines are taking over the world. He commits small acts of violence, such as breaking into a home and destroying a family's snowmobiles. This escalates into making bombs. And as time goes on, he becomes more obsessed with making big changes. He writes a 35,000-word manifesto and hatches a plan to get it published in the big daily papers. But by that time, the FBI has launched the world's largest manhunt to find him.
Is It Any Good?
This deep dive into the mind of a notorious terrorist is handled well, forgoing all the tired, traditional biopic notes and staying focused on the subject and capturing his emotions. Directed by Tony Stone, Ted K doesn't glorify Kaczynski, but nor does it tame him. It also doesn't try to be heavy or brutal, like a horror film. As it moves along, we begin to understand Kaczynski's choices, even if we disagree with them. For example, it makes sense that he would be irritated by all the buzzing snowmobiles (and mopeds in the summer), and it makes sense that he might be angry about it. The movie pieces together a kind of psychological profile of him as it proceeds.
Stone attempts a slightly soft, dreamy feel in the movie's fabric, as if Kaczynski weren't quite living in a hard, cold reality. Ted even imagines a girlfriend for himself, Becky (Amber Rose Mason), who only tells him how wonderful he is. (He has no idea how to communicate with real women.) Copley is a large reason the movie works. The actor has always had a quality of cheerful insanity (he was perfect for "Howling Mad" Murdock in The A-Team), and he plays Kaczynski not only with ease, but with a certain kind of muted glee. Ted K introduces us not to an evil man, but to a real person who was deeply troubled, went too far, and deservedly paid a price for his crimes.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Ted K's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
Is it possible to see Kaczynski as a flawed human in this movie, rather than a monster? How does the movie tell his story without judgment?
Why are we so fascinated with real-life killers?
Do you agree with any of Kaczynski's opinions about machines/computers ? What would be some healthier, less destructive ways of addressing this?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 18, 2022
- On DVD or streaming : May 24, 2022
- Cast : Sharlto Copley , Drew Powell , Amber Rose Mason
- Director : Tony Stone
- Studio : Neon
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 123 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language, some sexual content and brief nudity
- Last updated : February 18, 2022
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