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Dahmer

Play trailer Poster for Dahmer R Released Jun 21, 2002 1h 40m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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73% Tomatometer 41 Reviews 40% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
In this fictionalized, fragmented biopic of one of America's most notorious serial killers, Jeffrey Dahmer (Jeremy Renner) contemplates his latest potential victim, a young man named Rodney (Artel Kayaru). As Dahmer considers the fate of his prey, we see flashbacks to the events that led to the evolution of a monster, from Dahmer's tortured relationship with his father (Bruce Davison), to his first kill, to his patrolling of the gay bars of Milwaukee.
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Dahmer

Critics Reviews

View All (41) Critics Reviews
Moira MacDonald Seattle Times It's a hellish, numbing experience to watch, and it doesn't offer any insights that haven't been thoroughly debated in the media already, back in the Dahmer heyday of the mid-'90s. Rated: 1.5/4 Aug 9, 2002 Full Review Tom Sime Dallas Morning News Renner's performance as Dahmer is unforgettable, deeply absorbing. Rated: B Aug 8, 2002 Full Review Marc Savlov Austin Chronicle Less the sensational true-crime hell-jaunt purists might like and more experimental in its storytelling (though no less horrifying for it). Rated: 3/5 Jul 28, 2002 Full Review Joe Lipsett Murder Made Fiction Podcast - Bloody Disgusting A rough, hard watch about one of the scariest killers in the queer community, Dahmer is worth checking out for Renner's rich and complex performance alone. Jul 1, 2022 Full Review Trace Thurman Horror Queers Podcast Struggles a bit in the narrative department but Renner's career-best performance grounds the film, offering a unique take on one of the world's most notorious serial killers. Rated: 3.5/5 Jun 21, 2022 Full Review C.H. Newell Father Son Holy Gore More powerful than most give it credit for, and if this was your first time seeing Jeremy Renner, the quiet intensity of his performance is a massive part of that power. Rated: 4.5/5 May 7, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (398) audience reviews
Steve L I recently watched Dahmer (2002), and it left a profound impact on me. Jeremy Renner's portrayal of Jeffrey Dahmer is both chilling and captivating, offering a nuanced glimpse into the mind of one of America's most infamous serial killers. The film doesn't rely on gratuitous violence; instead, it delves deep into Dahmer's psyche, exploring the complexities and inner turmoil that drove his actions. The non-linear storytelling, interspersed with flashbacks, effectively sheds light on Dahmer's troubled past and the events leading up to his heinous crimes. Renner's performance is hauntingly realistic, capturing the eerie normalcy and underlying darkness of Dahmer's character. The supporting cast, including Bruce Davison as Dahmer's father, adds depth to the narrative, highlighting the strained family dynamics and missed warning signs. What struck me most was the film's ability to humanize without excusing Dahmer's actions. It presents a balanced perspective, prompting reflection on the factors that contribute to such tragic outcomes. While it's a disturbing subject matter, the movie is thoughtfully executed, making it a compelling watch for those interested in psychological dramas and true crime stories. Overall, Dahmer is a poignant and unsettling film that stays with you long after the credits roll. It's a testament to the filmmakers' respectful approach to a sensitive topic and Renner's exceptional acting prowess. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/15/25 Full Review Pedro Henrique C Dahmer He is a complete cannibal, madman, murderer and psychopath. This film has his charisma and his wonderful tone of suspense. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/07/25 Full Review Frank J A bar and a bathhouse are not the same thing. How did they manage to mess the details up so badly. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/03/24 Full Review Christian C Seeing people reference other (fictional) depictions of Jeff Dahmer’s life as an indicator that *this* fictional portrayal is less accurate is painfully typical. This is - by far - the most accurate and least distracted portrayal of him, showing him as more than just a topic of debate or a series of personality traits come to life like an automaton. The decision to try to “avoid showing the series through Jeff’s eyes” - but then doing that exact thing - is one of the major flaws of the Evan Peters depiction. This was much cleaner and much less fixated on paraphilia and deviation than the other, more sensationalized depictions. That alone made it a better and more telling watch. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/04/24 Full Review Tyler S Thought they missed pretty big here. I knew a decent amount about Jeffrey Dahmer after watching the film from 2017 and the series with Evan Peters. So i came into this expecting to see the same stuff but maybe told in a different fashion. I did not get that. This did not feel like a Jeffrey Dahmer story at all. Just a film about people guessing what happened. Plus, it just felt very slow and the sequence of events were super jumbled. Even some of the acting was mid at best. Definitely my least favorite of the Jeffrey Dahmer projects I've seen. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 07/24/24 Full Review Timothy T Jeremy Renner gives a creepishly good performance as Dahmer. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/23/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Dahmer

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Movie Info

Synopsis In this fictionalized, fragmented biopic of one of America's most notorious serial killers, Jeffrey Dahmer (Jeremy Renner) contemplates his latest potential victim, a young man named Rodney (Artel Kayaru). As Dahmer considers the fate of his prey, we see flashbacks to the events that led to the evolution of a monster, from Dahmer's tortured relationship with his father (Bruce Davison), to his first kill, to his patrolling of the gay bars of Milwaukee.
Director
David Jacobson
Producer
Larry Rattner
Screenwriter
David Jacobson
Production Co
DEJ Productions, Two Left Shoes Films, Peninsula Films
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 21, 2002, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 20, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$71.5K
Runtime
1h 40m
Sound Mix
Surround
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