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IMDbPro

My Friend Dahmer

  • 2017
  • R
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
22K
YOUR RATING
Anne Heche, Vincent Kartheiser, Dallas Roberts, Marc Meyers, Alex Wolff, and Ross Lynch in My Friend Dahmer (2017)
Before Jeffrey Dahmer became a notorious serial killer, he was a shy, alcoholic teen who never quite fit in. Based on the acclaimed graphic novel by Derf Backderf, this is the true, haunting story of Jeffrey Dahmer in high school.
Play trailer1:47
1 Video
99+ Photos
BiographyDramaHorror

A young Jeffrey Dahmer struggles to belong in high school.A young Jeffrey Dahmer struggles to belong in high school.A young Jeffrey Dahmer struggles to belong in high school.

  • Director
    • Marc Meyers
  • Writers
    • Marc Meyers
    • John Backderf
  • Stars
    • Ross Lynch
    • Alex Wolff
    • Anne Heche
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    22K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Marc Meyers
    • Writers
      • Marc Meyers
      • John Backderf
    • Stars
      • Ross Lynch
      • Alex Wolff
      • Anne Heche
    • 147User reviews
    • 135Critic reviews
    • 68Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 1:47
    Watch Teaser Trailer

    Photos102

    Anne Heche at an event for My Friend Dahmer (2017)
    Marc Meyers and Ross Lynch at an event for My Friend Dahmer (2017)
    Amy Hargreaves, Marc Meyers, and Ross Lynch at an event for My Friend Dahmer (2017)
    Amy Hargreaves and Marc Meyers at an event for My Friend Dahmer (2017)
    Alex Wolff and Ross Lynch at an event for My Friend Dahmer (2017)
    Alex Wolff at an event for My Friend Dahmer (2017)
    Anne Heche at an event for My Friend Dahmer (2017)
    Dallas Roberts at an event for My Friend Dahmer (2017)
    Anne Heche at an event for My Friend Dahmer (2017)
    Tommy Nelson and Harrison Holzer at an event for My Friend Dahmer (2017)
    Anne Heche, Miles Robbins, Marc Meyers, Alex Wolff, and Ross Lynch at an event for My Friend Dahmer (2017)
    Ross Lynch in My Friend Dahmer (2017)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ross Lynch
    Ross Lynch
    • Jeff Dahmer
    Alex Wolff
    Alex Wolff
    • John 'Derf' Backderf
    Anne Heche
    Anne Heche
    • Joyce Dahmer
    Vincent Kartheiser
    Vincent Kartheiser
    • Dr. Matthews
    Adam Kroloff
    • Mr. Burlman
    Brady M.K. Dunn
    • Bossy
    • (as Brady Dunn)
    Michael Ryan Boehm
    • Shorty
    • (as Michael Ryan)
    Dallas Roberts
    Dallas Roberts
    • Lionel Dahmer
    Liam Koeth
    Liam Koeth
    • Dave Dahmer
    Tommy Nelson
    Tommy Nelson
    • Neil
    Harrison Holzer
    Harrison Holzer
    • Mike
    Cameron McKendry
    Cameron McKendry
    • Moose
    Jake Ingrassia
    • Gooch
    Ben Zgorecki
    Ben Zgorecki
    • Bully Jock
    • (as Benjamin Zgorecki)
    Kris Smith
    • Ms. Bowles
    Jack DeVillers
    Jack DeVillers
    • Oliver Zlatka
    Gabriela Novogratz
    • Lisa Watkins
    • (as Gaby Novogratz)
    Miles Robbins
    Miles Robbins
    • Lloyd Figg
    • Director
      • Marc Meyers
    • Writers
      • Marc Meyers
      • John Backderf
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      'My Friend Dahmer' was filmed in Jeffery Dahmer's actual childhood home in Bath, Ohio. His high school, Revere High, was going to be used as well, but the school rejected the offer.
    • Goofs
      When Jeff gets kicked out of a supermarket for goofing off, several modern cars pass by from outside.
    • Quotes

      Jeffrey Dahmer: I'm just like anybody else.

    • Crazy credits
      Epilogue:  "On June 18, 1978, Steven Hicks went back to Jeffrey Dahmer's house.  He was never seen again.  In July, 1991, Jeffrey Dahmer was arrested and confessed to murdering 17 young men."
    • Connections
      References Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969)
    • Soundtracks
      5.7.0.5
      Written by Steve Lunt (as Stephen Lunt) and Lol Mason (as Laurence Mason)

      Performed by City Boy

      Courtesy of Cherry Red Records

    User reviews147

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Your Friendly Neighbourhood Serial Killer
    Based on the graphic novel of the same name, My Friend Dahmer, attempts to take a new perspective on the 'serial killer' film. The source material, written by John (Derf) Backderf, provides an insight into the High School years of this his (then) friend, Jeffrey Dahmer, who is most infamous for his serial killing spree of his male lovers and also his cannibalistic tendencies. We follow Dahmer through his troubled home life, burgeoning deviant behaviour, as well as his relationships with his 'friends' (more like bullies), whom he gains through odd behaviours, such as faking fits in school.

    Throughout the film there is a distinct struggle by the director (Marc Meyers) to reconcile his views of Dahmer as serial killer, with the sympathic portrayal of him by his former friend. Whether this is due to Backderf's guilt of his treatment of Dahmer, an emotion we glimpse in his character towards the end of the film, or if it is an attempt by Meyers to make a profound statement on human psychology and the latent murderer in any of us, is unclear. However, this is the film's greatest weakness in we can never be sure of its ultimate intention.

    On the whole, Ross Lynch's performance of Dahmer is to be lauded; he doesn't become a stereotype at any point, unlike the rest of the cast. Alongside his performance, the ideas of objectification and identification with Dahmer are the best feature of this film. From the opening, the choice of framing of both Dahmer and others, leads to a fragmentation of the body, only giving us glimpses of eyes, legs, bodies; linking the intertwining of Dahmer's obsession of sexualisation and objectification of his future victims. The filmmaking itself is extremely interesting, with its contrasting use of shadow and light; focus and blurring of Dahmer and the choice of camera angles which often distance us from Dahmer, giving us the same predatory perspective he would later use himself.

    By showing Dahmer through Backderf's perspective, it almost feels as though Backderf is trying to atone for his behaviour towards Jeff, leading to Meyers' confused direction. As a result, the film becomes dull, as events are repeated monotonously, to emphatically suggest that Dahmer's eventual behaviour was caused by his external circumstances. The film never dares to show Dahmer as murderer or explain his eventual behaviour, leaving the film on an unsatisfying conclusion. Whilst the film succeeds in examining how circumstances can affect psychology; by making Jeffrey Dahmer(!) the nicest person we encounter, the film doesn't fully demonstrate or explore the complexity and horrific, murderous nature of Dahmer.

    An upcoming film that seems to be taking a similar approach to serial killer biopics is Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, a film about Ted Bundy, focusing on the serial killer from his girlfriend's perspective. Oddly enough, the film stars another Disney alumni, turned serial killer actor, Zac Efron, a trend it seems to try and escape their whiter than white image from the House of Mouse. Whether this film can succeed in balancing the killer's evil deeds with a psychological approach, which tries to rationalise or explain his behaviour, therefore presenting a serial killer, not as an 'Other', but as a human, remains to be seen.
    helpful•14
    4
    • Soph07
    • Sep 19, 2018

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 2, 2018 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Instagram
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Mi amigo Dahmer
    • Filming locations
      • 4480 West Bath Road, Bath Township, Ohio, USA(as Jeffrey Dahmer's home)
    • Production companies
      • Ibid Filmworks
      • Aperture Entertainment
      • Attic Light Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,361,611
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $35,545
      • Nov 5, 2017
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,436,751
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39:1

    Related news

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