John Wayne Gacy. Richard Ramirez. Dennis Neilsen. Jeffery Dahmer. These men, and many other enigmas of modern crime, are some of the most notorious serial killers the world has ever seen. Whether by nature or by design, the circumstances in which such already fractured minds have been allowed to develop to the point where any consideration for human life is abolished will no doubt remain a bone of contention for investigators and criminologists. One thing that cannot be denied, however, is the fact that these perpetrators are still human beings, regardless of the appalling acts committed during their killing sprees. It is this paradox that perhaps defines our fascination with serial killers, and thus Hollywood’s penchant for adapting their lives to celluloid. Case in point: Dahmer.
In the suburban banality of 1970s Milwaukee U.S.A, young Jeffery Dahmer (Jeremy Renner) is wavering in a sea of solitude and isolation, feeling hopelessly disconnected and alienated from his parents and school associates. Unemployed, drinking heavily and drifting through adolescence without drive or ambition, Jeffery’s father Lionel (Bruce Davison) attempts an intervention to save his son from a meaningless existence, albeit without success. In the hope of setting the young man straight, Jeffery’s parents decide to send their son off to live with his grandmother (Kate Williamson) who endeavors to instill in him a strict religious mentality, however to similar fruitless results. With his seclusion from society growing ever-so dangerously and aberrant sexual desires reaching breaking point, Jeffery soon acquires a residence of his own and begins exploring the local red light district, meeting young men and taking them back to his apartment for much needed company…
There’s an unfortunate exploitive quality to the marketing of these - now somewhat popular - true crime biopics that slightly undermines their potential for serious criticism among open-minded viewers. Even though the surface subject matter is of a gruesome nature and could easily be dismissed as sensationalist, the psychology of Jeffery Dahmer and the core story of his tragic life is surprisingly relatable and emotionally resonant, further reinforcing the fact that he is indeed a human being despite his appalling actions. Unlike the more insidious and downright sadistic crimes of more widely publicized killers, Dahmer’s motivations for murder are far more rooted in his inability to connect with people - the victims companions rather than objects of disgust.
Thankfully, director David Jacobson intuitively recognizes the rarity of the case and strives to make Dahmer’s complexity as a wayward soul the primary focus and driving drama of the film, never at any moment succumbing to cheap shocks or depicting a life definable by good/evil. His screenplay fundamentally down plays his nightmarish deeds, weaving a non-chronological storyline through Dahmer’s youth as a teenager up until his eventual loss of control as a multiple offender by detailing several effective moments integral to his emotional detachment from those around him. Bottom line, were Dahmer tailored more for the exploitation crowd, any and all sincerity would have immediately been lost.
Fulfilling the shoes of the now infamous criminal is Jeremy Renner, recently nominated for an Oscar for his work in the much lauded war film The Hurt Locker. Renner’s performance as Dahmer is quietly affecting and highly disturbing in equal measure, depicting the man as an inherently doomed individual with a mind so vacant and devoid of sentiment that a future of self-destruction was almost imminent from the beginning. Renner also bares a striking resemblance to Dahmer, especially during the 1970s flashbacks when in full costume and sporting over-sized glasses. Impressive also is Artel Great as a potential victim in the final third of the film; his performance especially skillful when playing off Renner to create some of the more thoughtful – and confronting - moments in the film.
There is a consistency to the overall pace and mood of Dahmer that, however monotonous, exemplifies the tragedy of a life never lived that will no doubt make more casual viewers revaluate any preconceived impressions held before viewing. Whether or not you agree with the films’ depiction of a convicted killer is largely irrelevant; in the end Jacobson’s movie is far more complex and intriguing than one may think. In fact, it is a serial killer film less about the killer and more about a man who succumbed to the trappings of murder.
Dir: David Jacobson
Writer: David Jacobson
Cast: Jeremy Renner, Bruce Davison, Artel Great, Kate Williamson
Country: USA
Run Time: 102mins
Rating: R18+
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