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Dahmer
DVD/APPROX. 102 MINS/2002/USA R18+
DVD/APPROX. 102 MINS/2002/USA R18+
5
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Dahmer begins with the abduction of the youth that wandered out and SHOULD have gotten Mr. Dahmer arrested. But it doesn't. Ol' Jeff's
working at chocolate factory on a weird shift, and abducting men in his spare time. The story revolves around a night Jeff spends with a potential
victim, and all the peril that would entail. Some of Dahmer's past is revealed by flashback, and he becomes creepier, nastier and more of a jerk as
his character is developed in the prior events.
Dahmer is presented as a quick-witted, disturbed guy with an unhappy upbringing under a nosy father. The film REALLY humanizes Dahmer, which
is interesting. Dahmer exhibits good pacing; solid performances; competent, if completely unflashy direction, and nice touches of humor from the
character. This last element is handled very well, skillfully injecting the humor, but not mocking the situations on screen. The ending's a bit odd, and
perhaps Dahmer's crimes are a little too glossed over, ultimately making the character too sympathetic in the effort to humanize him. Dahmer is a
person, but the darker elements of his life needed more exploration. For example, during a dismemberment scene, it's clearly shown that Dahmer
is a bit sickened by the act, and that's the most violent bit in the movie. There's nothing that sprang out with Dahmer being completely violent to
me, and in real life he was committing very violent acts, though there is plenty of him as a predator.
The DVD presents Dahmer at 1.33:1, and has some worthwhile extras. One of those is a trailer, which oddly presents the film at about 1.85:1.
Also included is a featurette with interviews with the cast and crew. An extremely interesting aspect to this featurette is the discussion of Dahmer
humanizing the title character, and comparing his real life dehumanizing by the public to the crimes Dahmer himself had committed. There's also
some good stuff about the different shooting techniques for the flashback and present time scenes.
The DVD also includes a commentary by director David Jacobson and stars Jeremy Renner and Artel Kayaru. Renner tells an interesting story about
shooting on location of Dahmer's old stomping grounds. Not wanting to admit they were making a movie about Dahmer, he claimed to be playing
Simon LeBont from Duran Duran. Renner also compares the acting power he has over others in a scene to the power Dahmer might have sexually
felt over his victims. The commentators try to examine multiple sides of the police letting Dahmer take the guy from the first scene back to his
apartment, and give more details about Dahmer and differences between the film crimes and the real ones, like his arousal by glistening innards
that doesn't get mentioned in the film.
Dahmer is a well done, interesting film with a philosophical standpoint. That last bit alone sets it apart from most recent horror movies, and
cemented it as a worthwhile viewing experience.
working at chocolate factory on a weird shift, and abducting men in his spare time. The story revolves around a night Jeff spends with a potential
victim, and all the peril that would entail. Some of Dahmer's past is revealed by flashback, and he becomes creepier, nastier and more of a jerk as
his character is developed in the prior events.
Dahmer is presented as a quick-witted, disturbed guy with an unhappy upbringing under a nosy father. The film REALLY humanizes Dahmer, which
is interesting. Dahmer exhibits good pacing; solid performances; competent, if completely unflashy direction, and nice touches of humor from the
character. This last element is handled very well, skillfully injecting the humor, but not mocking the situations on screen. The ending's a bit odd, and
perhaps Dahmer's crimes are a little too glossed over, ultimately making the character too sympathetic in the effort to humanize him. Dahmer is a
person, but the darker elements of his life needed more exploration. For example, during a dismemberment scene, it's clearly shown that Dahmer
is a bit sickened by the act, and that's the most violent bit in the movie. There's nothing that sprang out with Dahmer being completely violent to
me, and in real life he was committing very violent acts, though there is plenty of him as a predator.
The DVD presents Dahmer at 1.33:1, and has some worthwhile extras. One of those is a trailer, which oddly presents the film at about 1.85:1.
Also included is a featurette with interviews with the cast and crew. An extremely interesting aspect to this featurette is the discussion of Dahmer
humanizing the title character, and comparing his real life dehumanizing by the public to the crimes Dahmer himself had committed. There's also
some good stuff about the different shooting techniques for the flashback and present time scenes.
The DVD also includes a commentary by director David Jacobson and stars Jeremy Renner and Artel Kayaru. Renner tells an interesting story about
shooting on location of Dahmer's old stomping grounds. Not wanting to admit they were making a movie about Dahmer, he claimed to be playing
Simon LeBont from Duran Duran. Renner also compares the acting power he has over others in a scene to the power Dahmer might have sexually
felt over his victims. The commentators try to examine multiple sides of the police letting Dahmer take the guy from the first scene back to his
apartment, and give more details about Dahmer and differences between the film crimes and the real ones, like his arousal by glistening innards
that doesn't get mentioned in the film.
Dahmer is a well done, interesting film with a philosophical standpoint. That last bit alone sets it apart from most recent horror movies, and
cemented it as a worthwhile viewing experience.
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