At the time of writing Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is the number one show on Netflix in the US. True crime stories have always been a popular genre, but in recent years they have exploded in popularity thanks to shows like Making a Murderer and I Am A Killer.
What Is The Jeffrey Dahmer Story About?
The series chronicles the life of Jeffrey Dahmer from his early years right up until his arrest and eventual conviction for the murder of 17 people.
Dahmer was a complex and deeply disturbed individual, and the series does a good job of exploring the various factors that may have contributed to his descent into sadistic violence.
It also paints a very harrowing picture of the victims, many of whom were preyed upon by Dahmer because of their vulnerability.
While it's not an easy watch, The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is a well-made series that sheds light on one of America's most infamous serial killers.
The drama begins with Dahmer's failed attempt to kill Tracy Edwards. Fortunately, Edwards escaped and led the police back to the apartment where Dahmer's most horrific crimes had been committed.
The series then delves into Dahmer's backstory and how he became a monster. It covers his dysfunctional childhood, awkward adolescence and his gradual descent into alcoholism and mental illness.
It also explores the various murders Dahmer committed, as well as the grisly details of how he disposed of the bodies. These include dismembering them, dissolving them in acid, and even eating some of the flesh.
Is The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Worth Watching?
Yes, the Jeffrey Dahmer Story is worth watching. It's a well-made series but what elevates this true crime drama is the performance of two central characters.
First, there's Evan Peters who plays Jeffrey Dahmer. He completely disappears into the role and gives a chilling performance.
Evan is best known for his role as Quicksilver in the X-Men film series. The role that propelled Peters into stardom was playing the teenager Tate Langdon in the first season of the FX anthology series American Horror Story.
Then there's Richard Jenkins who plays Dahmer's father, Lionel. He delivers a powerful and gut-wrenching performance as a man struggling to come to terms with his son's horrific crimes.
Jenkins is best known for his role as Nathaniel Fisher, in Six Feet Under. He also starred in Bone Tomahawk and The Shape of Water, for which he received an Oscar nomination.
I can see Jenkins picking up award nominations for his performance in The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.
The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is a well-made series that's worth watching for the performances of Evan Peters and Richard Jenkins alone. But it's also a valuable addition to the true crime genre, offering insights into the mind of one of America's most infamous serial killers.
Where to Watch Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
You can watch this ten-part limited series exclusively on Netflix. Each episode is around 45-60 minutes in length.
Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan developed this series together. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis composed and performed the music for the series. The soundtrack album was made available the same day as the program.
Critical Response
We gave the series a solid 8/10 but how did others score it?
The Jeffrey Dahmer Story currently holds a 50% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the audience score on RT more accurately reflects the favourable response to the series, with an 87% rating. On IMDb, the series has an 8.5/10 rating, based on over 10,000 user votes.
The series has been generally well-received by critics but some have criticized it for being too graphic and disturbing. However, as a true crime series, that's to be expected.
