On Sept. 21, Netflix released “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (Dahmer).” The show debuted at number one on Netflix’s overall charts.
Surely, one would think that the mass murderer who admitted to killing 17 men of color hasn’t received any praise. As with other charismatic white serial killers, sympathizers seemed to follow Dahmer closely after the series’s release. The act of praising a white serial killer who targeted people of color is abhorrent and could encourage others to follow in Dahmer’s footsteps.
The story of Jeffrey Dahmer’s descent into madness as shown on Netflix was captivating, but it certainly carries a cost. There is no inherent issue with creating media centered around informational storytelling of a serial killer’s life, including their homicides. However, there is a fine line between informational and entertainment-based versions of this medium.
The newest rendition of this genre went wrong with the real-life dramatization of influential people in Jeffrey Dahmer’s life.
Despite criticism from the victims’ families, Netflix proceeded with the release of the series, which called for serious backlash against the corporation. Though some may argue that the depiction of Dahmer’s victim’s families in the show is necessary for viewers to understand the depth of his crimes, the production cast should have respected the wishes of the families they are portrayed.
Imagine your relative was brutally slaughtered. You grieve, then they catch his killer. Then, imagine a multi-billion dollar company dramatizes your situation without your consent, making millions of dollars from your suffering.
This was not merely a hypothetical. This happened to Rita Isbell, a relative of Errol Lindsey, one of Dahmer’s victims. Netflix and the actors used to portray the story deserve all of the criticisms they have been receiving since Dahmer’s release.
Beyond Netflix’s mishandling of the series as a whole, the consumer reaction to Dahmer was startling. The trend of glorifying mass murderers has resurfaced with TikTok videos idolizing Evan Peters, the actor portraying Dahmer.
This fad is nothing new. Serial killers have long had fandoms and have been discussed as if they were an athlete or singer. These trends are disgusting. As a society, we should evaluate why it’s been relatively normalized to have digital shrines devoted to such morbid characters of history.
Society as a whole must take a deep dive into why we tend to find serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer so captivating. Yes, it is admittedly interesting to attempt to understand how a human being could gain the mental capacity to kill so many people.
Yet, that does not justify the idolization that has resulted from the study of these demented individuals. Many people do not view Dahmer’s victims as fellow humans, but rather as unfortunate casualties that needed to occur to satiate their entertainment needs. Ultimately, society should shame serial killers and their admirers with the same vigor.
Dahmer’s time in the spotlight is already coming to a close, and eventually, a new piece of film media will overtake it. However, the trend of glorifying serial killers has long been evident. As a result, until society can behave itself regarding serial killer content, dramatizations of these real-life scenarios should be halted.
Before you watch the next hot, true crime television show, remember that the deceased and their families exist in real life — not just on the screen.
Jacob Ramos is an Opinion Intern for the fall 2022 quarter. He can be reached at jacobtr@uci.edu.