Netflix’s new ‘Jeffrey Dahmer Story’ being accused of romanticizing a serial killer

The latest biographical crime thriller on Netflix is drawing criticism.

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The co-creator of American Horror Story, Ryan Murphy, has a new crime drama on Netflix that details Jeffrey Dahmer’s life and horrifying deeds. In addition, despite the show’s considerable popularity, it is being criticised for what some see as an effort to romanticise the activities of a serial murderer.

The show is called Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, and it sees Murphy reunite with Ian Brennan. The duo also co-created Glee and Scream Queens alongside Brad Falchuk (who isn’t involved in this project). And as the name suggests the 10-episode limited series follows the murders of American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, who is portrayed by Evan Peters in this instance.

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This is far from the first time Dahmer’s story has been told, as there are dozens of  documentaries on the subject. There’s even a theatrical movie, My Friend Dahmer, which was released in 2017. However, the latest adaptation of the true crime tale comes courtesy of Netflix and is generating both significant interest and a sizable level of backlash. 

While the show currently enjoys a 91% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and critics have been quick to praise Peters’ committed performance as the serial killer, concerns that the show romanticizes the killing of 17 innocent men have been raised. A tweet imploring viewers to remember the victims rather than Dahmer has amassed more than 100,000 likes.   

The casting of Evan Peters could be partially responsible for the online enthusiasm surrounding the show. Peters is a highly popular figure on the internet and has attracted a very devoted following over the years. As the below tweet notes, it’s okay to praise Peters’ performance but Dahmer himself deserves nothing but condemnation. 

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Concerns have also been raised around Netflix potentially profiting off the victims of Dahmer’s murderous spree. Whether the streamer has made any form of financial commitment to the families of the victims is currently unknown. 

There have been additional calls for Netflix’s Jeffrey Dahmer Story to be the last fictional adaptation of his life. Of course, the show is currently trending on social media and is highly likely to crack the Netflix top 10 in the coming days, so there is clearly a lot of audience interest in content about Dahmer making this request perhaps rather unlikely. 

Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is a new crime thriller on Netflix that you might want to check out if you’re searching for something to binge watch. Most reviews agree that it’s a well-written series featuring a standout performance by Peters in the title role. But keep in mind that the individuals on the film were actual people who sadly perished at the hands of an awful and cruel guy. In the name of entertainment, it’s critical that we keep it in mind.

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