A Look at My Friend Dahmer (2017)
Since Netflix has recently released a new Jeffrey Dahmer documentary series, I thought it was the perfect time to check out the previous Jeffrey Dahmer films released over the years. First on my list was the well-known 2017 film covering Dahmer’s teenage years, “My Friend Dahmer.” It received a 6.2 on IMDB and an 86% on Rotten Tomatoes; it was well-received by most audiences and is the latest film about the famous serial killer.
Before jumping into my review of this film, let me explain how I will approach this. First, how accurate is this film to Jeffrey Dahmer’s childhood? Secondly, how well the movie was delivered. And then finally, I will be covering my own opinions about the film. So buckle in, grab some popcorn, and let’s get started!
Trigger Warning for Film: Roadkill, Killing of animals
Some Spoilers Present!!!
The Graphic Novel From Which It Started
The main reason this movie did so well is that it is based on a graphic novel by John Beckdef. John Beckdef knew Jeffrey Dahmer personally as a child, which gives him a lot of insight into the young killer’s childhood. Due to his background and what we learned from Dahmer, the film presented a shockingly accurate representation of his childhood. You do not always see movies like this that do that. Instead, they shy away from the truth or change it for the movie’s sake.
“My Friend Dahmer,” gives you all the facts compellingly and disturbingly. The film does not seem very disturbing at first, as you see Dahmer on the bus heading to school. He stares out the window at a jogger, who becomes a sort of fixation point for Dahmer throughout the film. While mildly creepy, not that disturbing at all. But before too long, we are treated to a sequence of dead animal events. Dahmer picks up a dead animal and puts it into a jar of acid.
Nothing explicit is ever shown, it is a reasonably mundane film, but the way it is presented makes it so truly disturbing. And throughout the film, it keeps up this sort of off-kilter vibe that rubs you the wrong way. You watch as Dahmer becomes the “class clown” of sorts, and three boys start the “Dahmer Fan Club.” Whether or not they do it forever as a joke or start to view Dahmer as a friend is left up to interpretation.
Delving a Bit More into the Story
For their final semester of senior year, the Dahmer Fan Club watches and cheers on Dahmer as he does fake seizures and mentally ill acts in public. Constantly striving for more attention from them, Dahmer continually amps up his actions. It does not matter if he is in school or the mall, nowhere is safe from his acts. Over time though, the three boys who started the Fan Club begin realizing Dahmer is more mentally disturbed than they thought.
The laughs and approval begin to disappear, and Dahmer, becoming desperate for that attention, begins to drink heavily. While the movie takes place when Dahmer is about 18, he actually started drinking around 14. It became one of his favorite crutches, especially after his mother and father separated. He never had a stable and close-knit family, so he lacked that early parental attention. I believe it was a blessing as there is never a moment in the movie when they are not constantly fighting.
Luckily, the movie does not attempt to paint these things as to why he committed his murders. It presents his childhood in a form never seen before and leaves you to form your own conclusions. It is delivered beautifully in a chilling fashion and leaves you wondering. What if his family life had been better? Was he always going to turn into a serial killer? What if he had been able to explore his sexuality properly? These are the questions you are left with after watching it.
The important point here is that the film does not blame any of these for his crimes. Dahmer, in the film, could seek help but rejected it repeatedly. So while his childhood may have significantly affected his becoming a serial killer, it is still on Dahmer. Dahmer was the one who killed the boys. No one made him do it, and he could have gotten help.
How Knowing What Dahmer Becomes Affects the Story
Another aspect of the film I want to talk about here is how knowing that Dahmer is a killer affects the story. You are never shown any of his crimes, as the movie ends right before his first killing of Steven Hicks. You see him picking him up and taking him home, and then the screen fades to black. But we know that Dahmer becomes a serial killer, so every odd thing he does has a darker tone to it. From the gathering of road kill to the staring at the jogger, it all seems off.
Even though any other film like this would just come off as poorly made, it is because we know what Dahmer becomes that it works. It keeps you wondering what he is going to do next. You want to know if he is going to murder someone. The whole film, you are waiting for something to happen, and it never does. Dahmer’s mental health slowly deteriorates, and then near the end, he seems to want to murder his friend. But he doesn’t. Why? We are never told and have to form our own conclusion.
Only two moments in the film allude to his future murders if you know about Jeffrey Dahmer. The first is when his father buys him a pair of weights because he wants Dahmer to get out and about. The second is obviously when he picks up Steven Hicks and takes him home.
Final Thoughts on My Friend Dahmer
We have finally reached the end of this “My Friend Dahmer” review. It is my first review ever on a movie, so let me know what you think of it below! I plan on writing many more of these and will be covering every Dahmer film and show. But let me finish up this review first. Personally, I really enjoyed this film. As a horror film buff, no other movie has ever left me feeling quite as disturbed as “My Friend Dahmer.” It is wonderfully done, and I highly recommend it to all true crime lovers.
Until next time my readers, stay safe, drink your water, and I shall see you next time.