On September 21st, 2022, “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” was released on Netflix as an original show. This show is based on the true discovery of the serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. The show is rated TV-MA containing substances, language, violence, nudity, gore, sexual violence, and smoking, and therefore, best suited for older viewers. The Powderhorn does not endorse the viewing of this series except for students 18 and older.
With the release of this 10 episode show, the series became the talk of the month. On October 7, 2022, it was number one in TV shows on the Netflix platform. Unlike other documentaries about the prolific killer, this show provides reenactments of Jeffrey Dahmer’s childhood and the stories behind his victims and arrest.
“Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” sees Evan Peters in the title role. The series walks you through these crimes and the story behind it all, from his childhood leading up to his arrest and death. It also provides the background of how and why exactly Dahmer was the way he was.
Dahmer was an American serial killer from 1978-1991 who had killed 15 men. He would lure these men to his home and kill them, even committing acts of cannibalism.
While all of this was happening, Dahmer’s neighbor, Glenda Cleveland, played by Niecy Nash, heard everything that was taking place in his apartment. She called the Milwaukee police over and over to report the sounds and smells, but they would turn her complaints down because of her race.
In the show, viewers see the pain and loss the families experienced, along with the fear that gripped the town. Perhaps most compelling is that the documentary shows us speeches that the victims wrote about Dahmer.
Evan Peters takes on the role of Jeffery Dahmer well. While playing the role of a psychopath and serial killer is a sensitive issue, his acting performance was extremely convincing.
Niecy Nash also excelled in the role of Glenda Cleveland. The emotional performance from her was heart-touching.
Netflix has been making lots of documentaries on murders and serial killers. What does this say about our culture today? When we as humans want to explore our curiosities and wonders, sometimes we delve even into the darkest places. This show reminds us that the human brain is a confusing subject that not even scientists understand fully.
For mature audiences, this is definitely a show you could look into. But for younger audiences this might be a pass.
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