Recently, Netflix dropped their new true crime movie titled DAHMER Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Over the course of 13 years, Serial Killer, Pedophile, Necrophile, and Cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer (Evan Peters) killed 17 people and ate their body parts.
Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennans DAHMER is not the first movie depiction of the serial killer and sex offender. Its no secret that theres an overabundance of true crime-themed media, such as documentaries, TV shows, and movies, and that theres also a sizable audience for it. Due to its widespread appeal, true crime has become a focal point for deep philosophical and psychological debates.
One day after the Netflix series premiered, Dahmer was one of the most-searched terms in the United States. The show has received both praise and criticism, with the latter primarily focusing on the shows treatment of Dahmers victims loved ones. Or, more accurately, the productions apparent lack of effort to engage them.
DAHMER Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story sets out to be different by telling the story of the serial killer from the perspective of his victims, a predominantly male and male-identifying ethnic minority. Netflix claims that the show will offer victims of legendary serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer a voice.
Also Read: My Brother Was Murdered by Jeffrey Dahmer Was Replicated on A Netflix Show!
The family of one of Dahmers victims, however, has spoken out against the Netflix production, saying that they were not contacted about the series and questioning the necessity for yet more entertainment media to dig up their sorrow.
The fact that Netflix has placed such an emphasis on memorializing Dahmers victims has only added weight to the criticisms that have already spread like wildfire on Twitter.
Im not advising anyone what to watch, I know true crime media is huge rn, but if youre truly curious about the victims, my family (the Isbells) are upset about this show, tweeted Eric Perry, who claims to be a cousin of Errol Lindsey. When Dahmer killed Lindsey in 1991, he was 19 years old.
The repeated trauma is unbearable, and for what? We need how many films/television programs/documentaries?
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Im not telling anyone what to watch, I know true crime media is huge rn, but if youre actually curious about the victims, my family (the Isbells) are pissed about this show. Its retraumatizing over and over again, and for what? How many movies/shows/documentaries do we need? https://t.co/CRQjXWAvjx
eric. (@ericthulhu) September 22, 2022
In his response, Perry drew parallels between the Netflix dramatization and his cousin Rita Isbells victim impact statement given during Dahmers trial. A very distraught Isbell confronts the perpetrator of her brothers death in the archival tape, shouting at her so vehemently that she has to be restrained by security. In Episode 8 of DAHMER, this is performed alongside a recreation of the scene starring actor DaShawn Barnes.
Perrys response to the viral video has received over 400,000 likes and 70,000 retweets as of this writing.
During an interview with Insider, Isbell said that he had never been contacted about the show. Netflix should have asked for our input before filming began. None of them bothered to ask me any questions. They went ahead and did it on their own.
Isbell added that while the show will make money for Netflix, none of it will go to the victims offspring.
A less harsh and casual tone could be maintained, Isbell said, if the show offered some sort of benefit to the participants. Its tragic [Netflix] is profiting from this tragedy. Thats nothing but avarice.
Also Read:Why Did the US Army Discharge Jeffrey Dahmer with Honors?
Perry tweeted, echoing Isbells comments, [t]hey dont notify families when they do this. Seeing as how its all in the public domain now, they have no legal obligation to inform (or compensate) anyone. Everyone else heard about it before my family did.
They claim they are acting with respect to the victims and honoring the dignity of the families, but no one ever gets in touch with them. Once every few months, my cousins get a flurry of calls and messages alerting them to the arrival of a new Dahmer performance. Its heartless.
When Mashable reached out to Netflix for comment, Netflix declined.
At least five films have been made that dramatize Dahmers life, including Dahmer (2002) with Jeremy Renner and My Friend Dahmer (2017) with Ross Lynch. The first of these documentaries, The Secret Life: Jeffrey Dahmer, came out in 1993, two years before Dahmer was killed in prison.
Additionally, there are a plethora of documentaries about Dahmer, including the forthcoming Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes series on Netflix.
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The families have already said that the Netflix Dahmer series has retraumatized them, so I think we need to acknowledge that you watching it goes away beyond “I like true crime cause it’s informative”. Admit that the trauma of others is entertainment for you and go.
Netflix asking how Jeffrey Dahmer got away with it so long, in their preview, is so tone deaf and annoying because like WE KNOW why, racism, racist policing, and policing in general & nothing is going to change so yeah.
The Great Negro (@jiggyjayy2) September 25, 2022
As much as I love Evan Peters and true crime Im not watching the Dahmer series on Netflix. Ive had enough of that man and the glamorization and obsession Hollywood has of him. What else do we need to know?!
there is nothing cute or handsome about Jeffrey Dahmer. i instinctively knew when Ryan Murphy was attached to the project, it was going to be romanticized because that is what he does. exploiting the death of gay men is on brand for him.
gregoire. (@mistergeezy) September 24, 2022
Family members and close acquaintances of murder victims have always been opposed to the real crime genre. Victims loved ones have spoken out against Netflixs true crime docuseries The Staircase and I Am A Killer, with some even pleading with the shows creators to pull the plug.
Because of the genres widespread popularity and the persistence of persistent complaints, its safe to conclude that such demands are rarely given the attention they deserve.
DAHMER Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story on Netflix seems to have reminded viewers that the victims were actual individuals whose lives were cut tragically short by Dahmer, as contrasted with the melodramatic wrath expressed by Isbell in the film.
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