Jenn Arias ’23
Staff Writer
Evan Peters perfectly encapsulates the creepiness and oddity of Jeffrey Dahmer in Netflix’s original “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.” Premiering September 21, this limited series elaborately describes the horror of the 17 men that were dismembered (some of them eaten) as we walk through a timeline of the lack of construction that was Dahmer’s making.
For Evan Peters, the acceptance of this role is no surprise to his fans. Known mostly for his roles in “American Horror Story,” each of Peters’ characters have had some sort of horror aspect to their personality or background. In the first season, he plays a high school shooter; in another, he is a super-intense Trump supporter focused on ridding the world of those who do not share his opinions in a Nazi-esque manner. Whatever the psychological flaw, Peters masters each role with a disturbing naturalness, a true master of terror.
Some have criticized “Dahmer – Monster” as dark and twisted and were left feeling sick to their stomachs. It is not a story for the faint of heart. With the freedom of being a Netflix original comes the ability to graphically describe and re-enact his crimes with practical effects that leave very little to the imagination.
The series starts in 1991 in Milwaukee telling the story of the first victim that actually got away. His neighbor, played by Niecy Nash, is suspicious from the beginning of Dahmer’s creepy stare with glazed-over eyes, his slow Milwaukee drawl, and the repugnant smell that is coming from the air vent linking their apartments.
From here on, the story jumps around from preparing for the trial to trivial stories from his childhood that may have directly impacted his abnormal personality from animal abuse to being abandoned first by his mentally ill mother, played by Penelope Ann Miller, and then by his father, played by Richard Jenkins, who seemed to choose his girlfriend, played by Molly Ringwald, above his teenage son. Each episode tells the personal story of a victim with the framework of Dahmer’s past as a possible reason for his psychotic thoughts and actions.
The New York Times has made criticism about these intimate stories, citing families of the victims for having to relive the horror once again, having not been contacted by creator Ryan Murphy for their permission. Netflix has declined to comment.
However, for those who love a good suspense crime show, the ratings seem to be positive despite the gruesome content. Rotten Tomatoes gives it an 85% audience score, observing that while it is “seemingly self-aware of the peril in glorifying Jeffrey Dahmer, creator Ryan Murphy’s salacious style nevertheless tilts this horror story into a realm of queasy exploitation,” according to rottentomatoes.com
If you are a fan of the genre, tread lightly through the 10 one-hour-long episodes, perhaps try not to watch them all in one sitting, and maybe save the popcorn for a lighter show.
