Disturbed by “Dahmer”

‘Monster: The Jeffery Dahmer Story’ contains disturbing material inappropriate for audiences

by Yasmine Anakkar

Throughout September and October the show “Monster: The Jeffery Dahmer Story” has been discussed all over the internet. Whether the show was a good way to tell the horrific story of Dhamer or not, it has a grip on our generation nevertheless–and it’s a negative and disturbing topic for a show, which follows Dahmer throughout his life during the series of horrendous murders from 1978 to 1991.

Dahmer was charged with 17 confirmed murders committed in Milwaukee, Wis. He committed heinous crimes, including cannibalism, and he murdered his victims in gruesome ways. Two years after Dahmer was caught, he was killed in prison by fellow prisoner Christoper Scarver.

After Dahmer was killed five movies, shows, and documentaries were produced based on him. Finally in late September 2022, the show “Monster: The Jeffery Dahmer story‘’ came out on streaming Netflix.

“Monster” is unlike any series we’ve seen this year–it contains highly graphic and disturbing scenes as actor Evan Peters portrays Dahmer. Throughout the show, audiences see disturbing scenes containing cannibalism, necrophilia and pedophilia. The show dramatizes the experience of Dahmer’s victims, yet, inexplicably, the show seems to be from the point of view of the character Dahmer. According to Deadline, the show “has racked up 299.84 million hours of viewing during its second week on Netflix’’. “Monster” should not have been produced or released because of easy access kids under 18 have to the show. There will be a slight curiosity in watching the show because of how much it’s trending, whether

This show is unlike any series the show is appropriate or not. The show can cause we’ve seen this year–it contains people sympathize with Dahmer in some scenes, highly graphic and disturbing contradicting the producers’ scenes as actor Evan Peters stated goal of making the show about the victims, not portrays Dahmer. Dahmer. This show should never have been produced or aired because it also romanticizes a serial killer. TikTok is filled with many memes and “edits” of Dhamer, showing him in an attractive light, which, again, can cause people sympathize with the main character as opposed to victims. This situation has happened with other serial killers such as Ted Bundy, Richard Ramirez, and Paul John Knowles again having the same exposure on Tiktok.

Overall this show is available to all ages and children; parents cannot prevent every child from accessing the show or online discussions of it.

Shows and movies that are disturbing like this should not be available via streaming services or the internet because children are exposed at a young age, such as inappropriate and explicit content on video games, TV shows, and more. According to Childsafe Media, “Harmful effects may result from sensationalization of violent behavior, exposure to subtle or explicit sexual content, promotion of unrealistic body images, presentation of poor health habits as desirable practices, and exposure to persuasive advertising targeting children.” Watching explicit content at a young age can lead to violence and psychological issues that are most likely to occur in boys.

Any highly graphic and explicit material, including the Dahmer Netflix series negatively affects viewers as well as society. Viewing this harmful content should NOT be normalized in society today.