The Guardian also reports that Dahmer “got away with murder for so long because authorities ignored the concerns of Black and other minority community members.” Isbell’s cousin, Eric Perry, tweeted that the show was “retraumatizing over and over again.” “It’s sad that they’re just making money off of this tragedy,” she said. Rita Isbell, a woman who spoke during Dahmer’s trial after he killed her brother, gave an interview to Insider about her reaction to the show. None of the victims’ families or loved ones were consulted or paid.Īccording to The Guardian, the show’s creator, Ryan Murphy, “said his team tried to speak with about 20 of the victims’ friends and family before the show’s release but no one called back.” However, Netflix’s choice to use true crime, especially recent crime, to sate consumers’ desires has ethical issues. This rationale explains the attraction to frightening media.

“They also allow us to identify with the bad guy without getting ourselves into too much trouble.” “They allow us to collectively get a sense of catharsis by the vanquishing of these fears.”Īn article by “Today” echoes Ago’s theory: “Horror films in particular allow us to explore the experience of fear in an enjoyable and safe way,” the article said. “Horror as a genre is an expression of the collective anxieties of a society at the time in which these films are made,” Ago said. They quote Alessandro Ago, director of programming and special projects at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Paired with the knowledge that one is not in real present danger, the sensation can be enjoyable.Įxperts at the University of Southern California wrote about this subject. Watching something scary produces a hormonal response that floods the body with adrenaline, dopamine and endorphins. Psychology Today writes that people enjoy the feelings of suspense and fear when they are in a safe, controlled environment. The market for such dark television and movies may have a psychological explanation. Netflix profits from the retelling of a real man murdering real victims. The perverse scenario leaves viewers sitting on the edge of their couches, emotionally invested in an actor’s portrayal of a murderer who was caught and charged almost 20 years ago. Therefore, viewers wait for the other characters to realize it too. In both “The Good Nurse” and “Dahmer,” viewers know the main character is a serial killer from the first minute. BuzzFeed writes that the “depiction of the real-life Dahmer … has endeared the serial killer to some people.” The actor, Evan Peters, is beloved by fans, and some of that adoration has been extended to the serial killer he depicts. The Dahmer show featured a similarly charismatic depiction of Dahmer. In certain moments his character tries so hard to be lovable that it’s eerily convincing. He plays an evil character with precision, intentionally allowing the cracks of his facade to slip only a couple of times throughout the two-hour movie. In this movie, Eddie Redmayne plays Charles Cullen, a real nurse who killed hundreds of patients between 19. The latest such Netflix production is “The Good Nurse,” which came out just before the Dahmer series. While documentaries and docuseries can be convincingly marketed as educational or historical, embellished retellings are another matter. One such list by Augustman said “The Ted Bundy Tapes,” “is perfect for a weekend binge, if you want to gain some insight into the mind of a horrendous criminal and decode his murders.” This presupposes an audience for such gruesome content. Some titles include “Indian Predator: The Butcher of Delhi,” “Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes,” “Memories of a Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes” and “The Sons of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness.” The internet is rife with curated lists of the best serial killer media to consume on streaming platforms. Netflix boasts a huge collection of shows, movies and documentaries about serial killers. The New York Post reported that it is now the second most popular Netflix show of all time. Viewers collectively watched 3.7 billion minutes between Sept. The show became the 10th most-streamed program in a single week ever recorded by Nielson, Netflix’s audience-tracking partner. Netflix’s “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” premiered in September 2022 and immediately gained huge popularity. Perhaps the most pertinent question is why do people love them so much? A survey by Morning Consult revealed that 62% of American adults are fans of shows or movies about serial killers. An exponential rise in the popularity of serial killer-focused entertainment brings several questions to mind, ethical and otherwise.

Netflix memories of a murderer