Drama
United States of America
My Friend Dahmer is a biographical drama film based on the graphic novel of the same name by Derf Backderf, who was a schoolmate of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. The movie follows Dahmer (played by Ross Lynch) as a teenager in the 1970s, struggling with his parents' failing marriage, his mother's mental illness, and his own feelings of isolation and confusion.
Dahmer's obsession with dead animals and his increasingly strange behavior at school raise red flags among his classmates, but he still manages to forge a tentative friendship with Backderf (played by Alex Wolff) and a group of misfit friends. They become fascinated with Dahmer's oddities and often goaded him into performing bizarre stunts for their amusement.
As Dahmer's behavior spirals out of control, the film explores the nature vs. nurture debate and the psychological factors that may have contributed to his eventual descent into violence. It also examines the role that his peers, teachers, and family played in enabling his behavior, as well as the regret and guilt felt by those who knew him.
The movie ends with Dahmer's first murder, just as he's about to graduate high school and set out on his path of destruction. My Friend Dahmer has been praised for its nuanced portrayal of a complex and troubled individual, as well as its exploration of the cultural and societal factors that can contribute to the making of a serial killer.
