TV Show Review: Dahmer
TW: Mentions of gore, death, murders and more. Please be advised before reading.
Dahmer is an interesting watch if you have ever been a fan of true crime. The show details his experiences that are perfectly reflective of his killings. The show does not stray away from the genuinely dark events, showing Dahmer’s killing of fourteen-year-old Konerak Sinthasomphone. The show tugged at the heart with the deaths and showed no remorse for Dahmer.
The show begins at the end, showing Dahmer’s last attempted victim escaping and eventually bringing down the killer to seventeen men. The episode shows how people in his building knew he was killing and even reported it before, but they were never taken seriously.
The series contains little clips and images of the actual murders. Some of the photos that were in the series were the actual photos Dahmer took while alive. When Dahmer killed the fourteen-year-old, the neighbor called the police and the show shares a clip of the actual phone call they made. The series works to make this accurate to real life and these additions work to sell it.
One episode that tugs at your heart is episode six, which focuses on Tony Hughes, a deaf man. This episode follows Tony as an aspiring model and you develop this connection with him. It shows his reason for moving and his passions to pursue and you get to understand who he is. Those pieces make his death even more heartbreaking. The episode also shows Dahmer’s first real taste of cannibalism when he eats Tony’s liver.
The show features Evan Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer and his past roles in American Horror Story are clear to have helped in taking on this role. Peters fits the look of Dahmer and manages to play the role perfectly. He shows Dahmer as a mentally ill man and the need for this honest portrayal of him. Peters does a great job of not glorifying Dahmer, which helps sell the role.
Overall, the series is one to watch if you are interested in this true crime story. However, do take note of the dark content, as there are numerous scenes that can be triggering.
