When logging on to Netflix you’ll find the “Top 10 TV Shows in the U.S. Today” category. Number one in this category is currently DAHMER – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. This is a yet another mini-series that dives into the infamous serial killer Jeffery Dahmer and the grotesque murders he committed against 17 men. An additional series was released on Netflix entitled Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes just two weeks after DAHMER.
These aren’t the first pieces of media created about the killer. Several other films and shows have been made to tell Dahmer’s story, and he is not the only killer to get this attention.
Other notorious serial killers like Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacey have also received worldwide attention for their crimes, and that can be attributed to true crime media. It seems like every year there’s a new show or film announced about these killers, and the public waits with anticipation to get their fix. Is that not weird to anyone else?
Don’t get me wrong, I used to enjoy true crime documentaries and other media about serial killers. But, as I got older, I found myself asking why I was so intrigued. Why does our society find collective joy in watching these shows? How do the victims’ families feel about these shows? Do we need more shows and films about serial killers or true crime?
While I can’t answer all of these questions, I feel somewhat qualified to answer the latter: No, we do not need anymore media about serial killers. While there are many stances I can take in this argument, my main gripe with true crime is the lack of consideration for the victim’s families.
After DAHMER’s release, people were raving about how good the show was and its historical accuracy. When speaking on the accuracy of the show, people picked out one scene in particular. The scene was of Rita Isbell, the sister of Errol Lindsey, a victim of Dahmer, delivering a victim impact statement in court. The show put the actress playing Isbell in the exact same clothing, hairstyle, and jewelry, while having her act out the exact statement Isbell gave in court. People loved it and began posting it on social media, until Twitter user @ericthulhu tweeted, “I’m not telling anyone what to watch. . .but if you’re actually curious about the victims, my family (the Isbell’s) are pissed about this show. It’s retraumatizing over and over again, and for what?”
This tweet opened the door to a lot of questions, including whether or not Netflix gained permission from the families to share the murders of their loved ones. The answer was “no.” The conversation gained so much traction that Isbell did an interview with Insider about her emotions regarding the new show. She expressed how the show, especially the use of her statement, greatly bothered her. Isbell shared that Netflix never contacted her about the show and how they were obviously money hungry in making the show, “It’s sad that they’re just making money off of this tragedy. That’s just greed.”
This isn’t the first time a true crime victim’s family has stated their discomfort with the media made about their loved one. This isn’t the first time a victim’s family have asked the public to not watch a show detailing their loved one’s last moments. But yet, the shows are still being made and watched. The blatant disregard that media companies and the general public have for the family members of these victims is completely unacceptable. How would you feel if your loved one’s murder was constantly used as a form of entertainment without your permission? Personally, I’d feel disgusted and uncomfortable, and I think you would too.