The Jeffrey Dahmer story was the subject of a new true crime film. Evan Peters is playing Jeffrey Dahmer in a 10-part series.
Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan are the creators of Dahmer, which is not the first time that this prolific murderer has been depicted on screen. There is a lot of true crime entertainment out there, from shows to films, and no shortage of people interested in it. The popularity of true crime has led to discussions about ethics and psychology.
"Dahmer" was one of the top searches in the US a day after the show's release. The show has been criticized for its approach to the families of Dahmer's victims. The production seems to have failed to approach them.
The Jeffrey Dahmer Story tries to distinguish itself by framing its narrative from the point of view of the serial killer's victims who were mostly men and boys from marginalized ethnic groups. The series will give Dahmer's victims a voice.
Family members of one of Dahmer's victims publicly stated that they were not consulted about the series and questioned the need for more entertainment media to dig up their trauma.
The criticisms spread quickly and gained even more weight when it was learned that the emphasis on honoring Dahmer's victims was part of the reason for the backlash.
"If you're curious about the victims, my family is pissed about this show, I'm not telling anyone what to watch, I know true crime media is huge, but if you're actually curious about the victims, my family is pissed about this show, I'm Lindsey was killed by Dahmer when he was 19 years old.
It's retraumatizing over and over again. Do we need a lot of movies or shows?
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The comparison of Rita Isbell's victim impact statement during Dahmer's trial and the dramatisation of the event was made by Perry. Isbell is restrained by security after she confronted her brother's murderer. In the 8th episode of Dahmer, DaShawn Barnes is playing this scene.
At the time of writing, the video comparison has over 400,000 likes and 70,000 retweets.
Isbell said that he was never contacted about the show. I feel like we should have been asked if we wanted to make it or not. They never asked me anything. It was just done by them.
None of the money from this series will go to the children or grandchildren of the victims.
It wouldn't feel harsh and careless if the show benefited them. It's sad that they're making money off of it. It's just greed, that's what it is.
DaShawn Barnes portraying Rita Isbell in 'DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.' Credit: Netflix
Isbell said that families shouldn't be notified when they do this. They don't have to tell anyone because it's all public record. Everyone else did the same thing.
No one contacts them when they say they're doing this with respect to the victims or to honor the families. Every few months my cousins get a lot of calls and messages and they know there is another Dahmer show. I think it is cruel.
When contacted by the website, the company refused to comment.
2002's Dahmer starring Jeremy Renner is one of at least four films about Dahmer's life. The Secret Life: Jeffrey Dahmer was released in 1993. There are more than one documentary on Dahmer.
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For as long as the true crime genre has existed friends and families of murder victims have objected to the use of their pain for entertainment. The Staircase and I Am A Killer were both criticized by victims' families for their depictions of crimes. It is fair to say that such requests aren't often granted the consideration they want.
The comparison of Isbell's anger with the depiction of it in Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story reminds audiences that the victims were real people, with real families and real lives that were cruelly cut short.
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