My Friend Dahmer (2017)

A young Jeffrey Dahmer struggles to belong in high school.

Director:

Marc Meyers

Writers:

Marc Meyers, John Backderf (based on the book My Friend Dahmer by) (as Derf Backderf)

Stars:

Ross Lynch, Alex Wolff, Anne Heche

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Zachary Davis Brown	...	Freshman Boy (as Zac Brown)
Lily Kozub	...	Freshman Girl
Ross Lynch	...	Jeff Dahmer
Vincent Kartheiser	...	Dr. Matthews
Alex Wolff	...	John 'Derf' Backderf
Adam Kroloff	...	Mr. Burlman
Anne Heche	...	Joyce Dahmer
Brady M.K. Dunn	...	Bossy (as Brady Dunn)
Michael Ryan Boehm	...	Shorty (as Michael Ryan)
Dallas Roberts	...	Lionel Dahmer
Liam Koeth	...	Dave Dahmer
Tommy Nelson	...	Neil
Harrison Holzer	...	Mike
Cameron McKendry	...	Moose
Jake Ingrassia	...	Gooch

Storyline

A young Jeffrey Dahmer struggles to belong in high school.

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Plot Keywords:

coming of age | friend | friendship | strange behavior | bullying | 

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Taglines:

Based on the Acclaimed Graphic Novel

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Horror

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

R for disturbing images, language, teen drug use, drinking and sexual content, and for brief nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 June 2018 (UK)

Also Known As:

My Friend Dahmer

Filming Locations:

Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$35,545, 5 November 2017, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,355,664, 25 February 2018

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ibid Filmworks, Aperture Entertainment, Attic Light Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

My Friend Dahmer was filmed in Jeffery Dahmer's actual childhood home in Bath, Ohio. Revere High school he went to was going to be used for the movie as well, but the school rejected the offer.

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Goofs

When Jeff gets kicked out of a supermarket for goofing off, several modern cars pass by from outside.

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Quotes

Dr. Matthews: You seem healthy to me
Jeffrey Dahmer: What about what's on a patient's mind?

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Connections

References Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969)

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Soundtracks

Mixed Doubles
(uncredited)
Written by Tony Kinsey
Courtesy of APM Music

User Reviews

Somewhat slow but powerful all the same, and full of brilliant performances

I'm a fan of Derf's graphic novel about his teen experiences in the late '70s with Jeff Dahmer -- as a result I had mixed feelings about a film version. On the one hand, I was excited, but on the other was quite curious how the relatively brief story could be turned into a feature length film.

In terms of storytelling, the movie works. Yes, as a reader of the graphic novel may have suspected, the pace ends up being a bit slow, but it's still compelling stuff -- the viewer is there just as Dahmer arrives at a fork in the road of his life. Which way will he take? Will he end up just being an eccentric, or will he take that other, infinitely darker road?

We all know the answer, and of course the movie has a strong tragic element to it. It's all the more tragic -- for Dahmer's victims and their families, but also for Dahmer himself -- when we see that there was just enough to the guy ... just enough potential ... to make him possibly go the other way.

At times watching the movie can be tough going, but not for the reasons you might think. Watching a kid as painfully awkward and then as deeply depressed as Dahmer go through the torture of Middle American high school can be truly excruciating, all the more so because it seems to be happening in slow motion, like watching a car crash. But make no mistake -- it is absorbing human drama, quite unique in our age of comic book heroes and lurid reality TV.

Even if you don't particularly like slow-burn drama, see the movie anyway, for the performances. Lynch doesn't say a lot but he's truly engrossing to watch. Anne Heche is virtually unrecognizable as Dahmer's mother skating along the lip of sanity -- her manic performance is brilliant and unforgettable. And as usual Dallas Roberts impresses as Dahmer's father.

Highly recommended -- but don't go expecting a serial killer flick.