Dahmer series recalls infamous case
Jeffery Dahmer, the infamous cold-blooded killer who preyed on gay men as well as men of color from the 1970s to the 1990s, has come back into the spotlight after the “Dahmer- Monster: The Story of Jeffery Dahmer” series was released Sept. 21 on Netflix. “Dahmer’’ was an instant success, almost immediately becoming the number one show on the streaming app and the second most watched in Netflix history. The case of Jeffery Dahmer has been a massive phenomenon in the true-crime world, but many are arguing that the newfound attention on this case has given Dahmer a fame he does not deserve. Many of the families of Dahmer’s victims have publicized their disapproval of the series, claiming the returned light to the case has ‘retraumatized’ them.
The success of the show is much thanks to its all star cast, including “American Horror Story”s Evan Peters and 80s star Molly Ringwald. The details of this chilling show came from the notoriously twisted mind of Ryan Murphy. Murphy is best known for the creation of “American Horror Story,” and the lasting relationship between Peters and Murphy was evident in Peters creepily spot-on performance.
The show itself focuses on the different stages of Dahmer’s life, from his adolescence to his arrest. It includes many details and focuses on the many signs of homicidal feelings during Dahmer’s upbringing, including his hyper-fixation on dissecting deceased animals. The show took its time in setting its exposition but kept it interesting as from time to time, flash-forwards to a kill would occur. The final few episodes of the series followed Dahmer’s arrest, court trial and death. In recreating some of the victim impact statements of friends and family of Dahmer’s victims, viewers get an emotional peek into the impact Dahmer’s monstrosities had on countless people.
Another positive aspect of this gruesome show was its emphasis on representing and advocating for Dahmer’s victims. The entirety of episode six, “Silenced,” follows Tony Hughes, a deaf man who’s life was taken by the hands of Dahmer. This tear-jerking episode opened with a scene of his birth and childhood, proving that Tony was loved by many. In including their back story, “Dahmer’’ is successful at humanizing and amplifying the voices of victims that history has silenced.
Overall, though hard to watch at times, “Dahmer” was a success on Netflix, rightfully so, for its ability to keep viewers engaged.
