TV Show Review - Dahmer (MIni Series)

Season: Mini Series
Genre: Thriller/ Drama/ Crime
Number of episodes: 10
Year: 2022
Starring: Evan Peters, Richard Jenkins, Molly Ringwald, Niecy Nash, Michael Beach, Penelope Ann Miller  

Description: Story of the Milwaukee Monster told from the perspective of the victims and police incompetence that allowed the Winsconsin native to go on a multiyear killing spree.  

Review: To say that the life of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was downright complex is almost an understatement. His childhood was dominated by bickering parents, which eventually ended in divorce. His mother Joyce was addicted to pills and cared only for Jeffrey’s younger brother David. His father Lionel was caring but unwittingly planted a murderous seeded by pulling a four-year-old Jeffrey out of his isolation by getting him interested in dead (road kill) animals. Later in life, Jeffrey became an alcoholic and was thrown out of the army. On top of that, Jeffrey discovered his sexuality, being interested in men. His first of a total of seventeen murders still happened when he took a hitchhiker home and knocked him down when he would not respond to his advances. That’s where the killing began. In addition, Jeffrey Dahmer also got aroused by the shiny sight of internal organs and sometimes ate (parts of) his victims.

When you read this, it makes some people’s stomachs already turn. I understand. And many people who eventually saw the series, could agree. This type of serial killer story could be easily turned into a gory story, showing all the horrors Dahmer has done, in full color. But the creators of this series leave a lot up to your imagination. You know what’s happening, but it’s never displayed fully. There are sounds, visuals and descriptions of smells, that may suggest certain things. And I thought this was a great way to tell this story. In a way, it’s very subtle. There were only two scenes that made me a little sick, but I’ve seen it done way more gruesome in other movies or series.

The other thing I loved about this series, is that it’s not you typical biographical story, about how a serial killer became who he became. We follow the story through different points of view. And especially from the sixth episode on, this show does this in the best way possible. We see the story from the perspective of a victim and his family, the next door neighbor that had been calling the police for a long time before they eventually took action and Jeffrey Dahmer’s father. You see what effect Dahmer’s actions had on the different lives.   

Most credit, when it comes to performances, should of course go to Evan Peters. He really gets into character and I can’t imagine how difficult of a role this would be to play. I sure hope he plays a more happier role next. But high praise to Niecy Nash too, who played next door neighbor Glenda.
Whenever there is a portrayal of a non-fictional character, even when evil, makers always try to make him human and try to give also focus on a more sympathetic side. But Dahmer never becomes sympathetic.

I do understand the controversy that comes with this series. Dahmer’s family, the family of the victims, it feels like they are exploited and they have to relive this traumatic experience. But isn’t that with every true story being turned into a movie or series? And if you can’t deal with this theme, just don’t watch it. I believe “Dahmer” was a really strong series, depicting the story in a unique way.