I didn’t want to enjoy Monster : The Jeffrey Dahmer Story as much as I did. This is solely off the fact that I have watched so many true crime documentaries, interviews, movies, and books on him. I thought to myself, how could there be any more information the public doesn’t already know about the “Milwaukee Cannibal” that is interesting enough to make an entire 10 episode Netflix limited series about? I eventually caved in and clicked on it to see that Ryan Murphy was the creator of this. With some of his notable works being Nip/Tuck, Glee, American Horror Story, Scream Queens, Pose, 9-1-1, Ratched, etc… He has often been cited as “the most powerful man” in modern television. I still didn’t buy in, when my eyes soon wonder at the names above him: Evan Peters. So I figure, I’ll give it a shot. 

From watching this Netflix limited series, I found it to be different from the other film I have seen on Dahmer because this showcased the victim’s side of the story while exposing the reasons to why Dahmer got away with all that he did.

Concerned neighbor Glenda Cleveland (Niecy Nash) was a standout! Her perseverance for justice made for a toll of emotions the audience spent with her wanting for Dahmer to get caught. The police not listening to a word she said was frustrating and alarming.

Another character who stood out to me was Richard Jenkins who played Lionel Dahmer, Jeffery Dahmer’s father. His flawed tendencies made him an interesting character. During episode 1, in police questioning the sobbing felt real in Lionel realizing he raised a monster. Then jump to episode 8, we find out how Jeffery was neglected when he was younger and his father apologizing for that and blaming everyone else then eventually blaming himself. You can feel the guilt exhorting from his body. Although Lionel thought he was to blame, the only blame is on Jeffery Dahmer the person who did such horrific acts, and I felt that’s what the show did well.

Next, Evan Peters, the overall reason that sold me to watching this on Netflix. Him as Jeffery Dahmer was nothing short of perfect casting. From his work in American Horror Story, it is known he can play a creepy character and him as Dahmer was spot on! He talked liked him, he moved liked him, he was him.

Overall, this was a real tragic story with visually stunning cinematography, acting and directing. The jumps from every timeline to see all of Jeffery’s life was amazing filmmaking and the director’s choice to make it feel like we were being drugged by Dahmer and see his grey and beige room was terrifyingly  real.

I give Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story a 4.5/5 stars.