In the post-Hannibal Lecter era, the serial killer documentary has evolved into a subgenre of documentary in itself. Lots of media archive footage. Lots of judiciary archive footage also. Photos of the victims. Grisly reconstruction of the crimes. You've probably seen one before. Jeffrey Dahmer has been the equivalent of a star player in this golden age of serial killer in media, for the absolutely twisted nature of his crimes. He was therefore the perfect candidate to try and break the mold of the serial killer as a mediatized product. THE JEFFREY DAHMER files is a documentary that introduces Jeffrey Dahmer, the human being. It's about as frightening as it sounds.
How is it possible to humanize such a monstrous nature? Through other people. THE JEFFREY DAHMER FILES focuses on interviews of people who were in direct contact with him from his murders to the end of his trial. The most startling interview is given by Pamela Bass, who used to be neighbors with Dahmer. She recounts everything from the mundane details of her friendly relationship with neighbors, how she used to tease him because he was the only white man in an African-American neighborhood, to the feeling of absolute horror when she witnessed the police pull body parts from Dahmer's apartment. She also recalls the awkwardness of being accused of facilitating the murders by the families of the victims. It's a strange position to be in, since all you can accuse her of was to not be overly inquisitive of someone she didn't even doubt.
Another fascinating interview was of Pat Kennedy, the lead investigator in the Dahmer case. Kennedy retold in details that long, tortuous conversation he had with Dahmer, talked of the manipulation methods they used to get details out of him and what was striking was how loud and clear his psychopathic personality emerged. Dahmer did these atrocious killings with very precise intentions in mind. Kennedy also recalled these intimate moment where he triumphantly came home to announce his wife he was working the case. Director of THE JEFFREY DAHMER FILES Chris James Thompson creates a sense of immediacy, a reality that is usually absent from documentaries of such nature.
Picture above, ugly shirt Pat Kennedy gave to his son for Christmas.
It's a disquieting truth, but there is no absolute evil. Everybody is a human being whether we like it or not. It's Jeffrey Dahmer's own mortal imperfection that landed him in jail and ultimately in the hands of Christopher Scarver. THE JEFFREY DAHMER FILES draws an objective and detailed portrait through the eyes of people who's lives were turned upside down because of their close involvement with the Dahmer case. Don't watch this documentary if you're not already familiar with the case, but if you are, it demystifies the monstrous killer archetype quite good. Overall THE JEFFREY DAHMER FILES is quite the antidote to the ongoing boredom with serial killers in fiction and as an object of public fascination in general. It's a bold film that deserves your attention.