(Photo courtesy of E! Online) “”Dahmer” is streaming on Netflix now.”
Lillie Zate
Connector Staff
On Wednesday, September 21st Netflix premiered “Dahmer – Monster: the Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” a biographical limited series of ten episodes. Created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, the series follows the life, motives and methods of Jeffrey Dahmer, otherwise known as the “Milwaukee Cannibal” who killed 17 young men and boys from 1978 to 1991.
“Dahmer” stars actor Evan Peters as notorious Milwaukee serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer and is set in the 1960s to the early 1990s. Unlike other serial killer documentaries and biographical films, it does a good job in preventing his killings from being glorified or fascinating, but instead horrific and tragic while emphasizing how victims and their families were affected.
Viewers are taken down the dark path of Jeffrey Dahmer’s life from when he was born in 1960, his lonely childhood and his parents’ difficult relationship to his teenage years of being an awkward, lonely kid with no friends. The creators depict Dahmer’s dark fantasies of dead bodies, necrophilia and cannibalism and how they excited him in a sexual manner. They also showed his struggle to find stability in his life and to resist his horrible temptations. Eventually, the story takes a dark turn with his first murder, and then the subsequent murders after it – the killing spree of the real Jeffrey Dahmer in the late 1980s to the early 1990s.
The series follows Dahmer’s life almost down to a T, showing key events such as the night he was arrested, his tumultuous childhood years and even the victim’s families’ impact statements at his trial and sentencing hearings. The first episode begins with Dahmer’s arrest when his last would-be victim Tracy Edwards escaped and led the police back to his apartment. There, police discovered Dahmer’s collection of gruesome evidence of several murders, such as Polaroid photos of his victims in various stages of dismemberment, a 57-gallon vat of acid and other disturbing things. The series bounces around from his arrest and confession to throughout his childhood and young adult years, depicting his lonely adolescence and what led to him eventually snapping and committing his numerous atrocities.
The creators of “Dahmer” wanted to rewrite the serial killer’s story in a way that focused more on remembering the victims and their families, and that’s just what they did. For many of the victims, the series depicts their backstories and their families’ reactions, allowing them to be known as real people instead of victims of Dahmer. Each of these people had a name and a story, which is something that past serial killer story retellings do not always show.
“Dahmer” also focuses on people in Dahmer’s life who had a part in his story and impacted his development such as Jeffrey’s father, Lionel Dahmer. It portrays Lionel’s relationship with his son Jeffrey and how he tried his best to raise him, and his regret of not having more involvement in his life. Episode eight, titled “Lionel”, is focused on Lionel’s reaction to his son’s crimes, along with people such as Dahmer’s neighbor Glenda Cleveland, who consistently called the police about him to only be ignored.
This retelling of the life and crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer has made a significant impact on social media across the United States, as many influencers are taking to TikTok and Instagram to express their opinions on the series. Evan Peters, who previously has starred in many films and shows such as “American Horror Story” and “X-Men: Apocalypse,” has received much praise for his perfect portrayal of Jeffrey Dahmer.
In recent years, the genre of true crime has been the subject of many people’s minds, and “Dahmer” is a story that is perfect for those who enjoy it. However, with the nature of the story, viewer discretion is advised.
Grade: A-
