My Friend Dahmer

MY FRIEND DAHMER

B 

This film felt like a school project. Like a film student's senior thesis. A film that served little purpose. Had no reason to be made other than the interests and desires of the person making it.  

Nevertheless, it was an entertaining film.  What I appreciated about it the most was Ross Lynch's performance. He completely embodied Jeffery Dahmer. The way he walked, the way he talked. The way he sat in a chair. The way he starred. The way he breathed.  The amount of devotion and dedication that Lynch put into practically reincarnating Dahmer to the point of seeming as if he were possessed by Dahmer was innately impressive.  I cannot give him enough praise.  Compared to the 2002 DAHMER film where Jeremy Renner simply played the role as if he would any other.  Treating Dahmer as if he were simply a character, made up on the page that he could interpret or do anything he wanted with.  You don't do that when the person you are playing was a real life human being. You do what Lynch did. You study, you fixate, you become.  

Did we need a film on who Dahmer was before he became the hideous killing sexual deviant that the world knows him as. Did we need a glimpse into his family and social life?  No, especially since some of it was inaccurate. Yet as to what was accurate. As to what was honest in its depiction, it was fascinating.  As a man who was studied serial killers, I can't help but be drawn to to a film like this. 

Lastly I'll say that the placement of Badfinger's DAY AFTER DAY was an usual juxtaposition that shouldn't have worked as well as it did, but it did.