Dahmer (2002)

A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Renner makes this movie worth watching. His acting of such a complex and disturbed individual is amazing. Its important to remember that Dahmer had a psychological disorder which deeply affected his emotions and Renner manages to convey the deep and painful emotions even through the cold and stoic face Dahmer presented. But as for the movie itself, it misses the majority of what makes Dahmer's case so memorable. In order to understand Dahmer and his actions there must be a portrayal of how desperate he was for a companion - the driving force behind so many of his experiments and murders. The movie switches back and forth between time periods in Dahmer's life with little explanation or transition making it hard to follow if you are not intimately familiar with the case. If you are familiar with the case you may enjoy seeing such an interesting portrayal of the man himself but you are likely to be disappointed by all the missing details. For true crime fans its not a waste of time but it won't be something you'll come back to again and again. For Jeremy Renner fans though, you'll see a lot of what makes him such a great actor.

Naturally after Gacy, I had to move on and watch Dahmer, it was just one of those nights. Unlike the Gacy film, Dahmer was more typical of what you see from these types of movies. Jeffrey Dahmer's crimes may have been just as shocking as Gacy's, but Dahmer was of a completely different personality, one that doesn't really equate to film. Unlike Gacy, Dahmer was really shy and introverted, avoiding interacting with people that he wasn't planning on killing. The movie version of Dahmer's was honestly as boring as a Horror film could get. Much of it shows Dahmer alone in his apartment, torturing his victims, and much of the time, there isn't even any dialog! Jeremy Renner stars and does as good of a job as someone can do with a role like this, but to be completely honest I found this film to be nothing but boring. Even the graphic scenes the film portrays in order to shock you, don't really cut it. Dahmer may have been just as deranged as Gacy, but the two men were very different. Gacy's film was interesting, Dahmer's put me to sleep. Dahmer is one movie you can most definitely avoid watching.

I've heard it said from those who were already familiar with Jeffrey Dahmer that this film is dull and makes little of its potential given the subject matter. I was in the privileged position of knowing only that Dahmer was a serial killer and nothing of the specifics of his acts when I stumbled this DVD cover depicting a young Jeremy Renner's menacing stare cast in shadow. This sold the film to me as a sinister slasher, maybe a little cheesy. So I picked it up for a bit of morbid evening entertainment. The film sparked my interest in the case so much so that I have now watched four documentaries, some archive news coverage, the DVD of the trial and two prime-time television interviews with the man himself. This is the most interesting serial killer case I have ever come acrossAfter surveying the available material, and I think I've surveyed all there is – Dahmer survived only two years after his sentence to 937 years in prison – this film on second watch is still worth viewing. The film explores not the gruesome details of his methods, it prefers to focus on the bleak mental state of the man behind the deadpan face and emotionless voice that is Jeffrey Dahmer. The gore that actually surrounded the crimes occupies only two short scenes and is done so well it made me cringe at the physical and psychological damage being done to the victim. This is when violence moves away from action-packed punch-ups to casual mutilation. Reminiscent of a Korean horror such as "Chaser". The film delivers accuracy whilst also changing names and minor details for tact. Apparently Kathryn Bigelow cast Renner in "The Hurt Locker" based on this performance and I can see why. This is an example of an actor being able to portray an established character with painstaking accuracy. Dahmer is an intriguing person who exudes intelligence and bamboozling likability. His face is motionless, his eyes dead and his attitude to killing unnervingly nonchalant. Renner pulls the portrayal off with uncanny mannerisms and an amazing ability to look just like Dahmer using only hairstyle and line delivery. Amazing. This film is haunting. The mark of a good film for me is one that makes you think back to it frequently. This succeeds. So if you're new to the case I recommend this movie as an introduction to spur your interest. If you are not I recommend it for some insightful suggestions as to Dahmer's motives and mental state. Not to mention an opportunity to witness the vast talents of Renner who slips into the role as if channelling the man himself.

The first frame of the movie informs us that Dahmer was one of the most notorious killer of all time and he was sentenced to 937 years in prison!! You think that the movie will either tell you about the origin of this evil or will vividly show the kills. Alas, this is a philosophical discussion cum homoerotic dance which happens between Dahmer and one of his intended villain. Jeremy Renner is Dahmer, an unassuming guy who works in an ice cream factory. He is a homosexual. He lures guys to his home, mixes drugs in their drinks and then kills them. He likes a black guy, brings him home and the aforementioned philosophical bullshit starts. This is interspersed with scenes showing Dahmer's youth. Renner shows early hint of his awesome acting prowess but he cannot rise above the horrible script. It was as if the director chose the most boring 90 minutes of Dahmer's life to make the movie. Very disappointed. 1 out of 5 for Dahmer. This killer will bore you to death.