Watch My Friend Dahmer
- R
- 2017
- 1 hr 47 min
-
6.2 (24,154)
My Friend Dahmer is a disturbing and eerie biographical drama based on the graphic novel of the same name by Derf Backderf, a close high school friend of the infamous serial killer, Jeffrey Dahmer. The film is a chilling take on Dahmer's teenage years, long before he became a notorious murderer. It highlights the chilling and disturbing process of becoming a psychopath.
The film takes place in the late 1970s and early 1980s in Bath, Ohio, and focuses on the life of Jeffrey Dahmer (Ross Lynch), a shy and awkward teenager who is struggling to fit in at school. He becomes obsessed with collecting roadkill and dissecting it in his backyard. He seems to be searching for a way to connect with something, something that could bridge the unbridgeable gap between his inner darkness and the world outside.
As he struggles with his inner demons, Dahmer finds solace in a small group of fellow outcasts, including Derf (Alex Wolff), whom he befriends. The group is intrigued by Dahmer's odd behavior and offbeat sense of humor, and they soon start to hang out with him more frequently. Dahmer invites them over to his house to see his "lab," where he performs experiments on the dead animals he's collected. Dahmer's fascination with death and suffering is chilling, and his behavior becomes increasingly disturbing as the film progresses.
Despite his oddities, Dahmer's parents (Anne Heche and Dallas Roberts) are unaware of his inner turmoil, and they do not recognize the warning signs of serious psychological disturbance in their son. They are preoccupied with their own marital troubles and pay little attention to their child's well-being. This leaves Dahmer feeling increasingly isolated and alone in his spiraling thoughts.
As Dahmer struggles with his inner demons and his growing fascination with death, his friendship with Derf becomes strained. Derf and his friends begin to worry about Dahmer's mental state and try to help him, but they are ultimately powerless to stop him from becoming the monster he is destined to become.
Ross Lynch delivers a phenomenal performance as Jeffrey Dahmer, imbuing him with a haunting sense of otherness that is both fascinating and terrifying. The film depicts Dahmer as a lonely and isolated young man, struggling to find his place in the world, and it subtly suggests that had he received the mental health care he needed, he may not have become the monster he did.
The film is notable for its unflinching portrayal of mental illness and its haunting exploration of what might have made Dahmer into a serial killer. Rather than focusing on Dahmer's murders, the film delves into the psychology of his adolescence and the various factors that may have contributed to his eventual descent into madness. It is a dark and haunting film that lingers long after the final credits have rolled.
In conclusion, My Friend Dahmer is a chilling and disturbing biographical drama that offers a unique and unsettling glimpse into the formative years of one of the most notorious serial killers in history. It is a poignant reminder of the importance of mental health care and the dangers of ignoring warning signs of mental illness. With a phenomenal performance by Ross Lynch and a hauntingly atmospheric score, it is a film that will leave you shaken to your core.
My Friend Dahmer is a 2017 history movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 47 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2 and a MetaScore of 68.