'The secret life: Jeffrey Dahmer' is, as far as I understand it (I know about quite a few facts, but not all), true to the facts that are known about the infamous serial killer of the same name. Of course, it is still an interpretation as far as the acting goes, and Carl Crew is a very mediocre actor. The dialogues will also have been interpreted freely, because Dahmer never told everything that happened word for word. Also, a movie that covers such a long period of time, must choose its (key) events, but this is pretty much a series of (gruesome) killings, skipping time when it pleases in order to show as many of them as possible.
The film has a striking soundtrack, but it's also borderline cheesy. The settings are cheap, but of course this low budget stuff (I would assume, although one wonders how they had access to so many cop cars and rather neat gory elements such as the severed heads). Talent and charm can beat low budget, but I wouldn't say there was much talent involved here. Charm then? Well, here and there, but the movie fails to tell an evocative tale, this is mostly cheesy exploitation, even if I'm not exactly sure of what the director (/makers) intended.
It was just barely worth my while, because I'm interested in many serial killer cases, but it took me several sessions to muddle through it. I would advise anyone to go watch 'Dahmer' (2002) or read the comic 'My friend Dahmer'; they have lots more to offer in atmosphere, a gripping story, etc.. Still, for serial killer (Jeffrey Dahmer) completists...
A small 5 out of 10.
The film has a striking soundtrack, but it's also borderline cheesy. The settings are cheap, but of course this low budget stuff (I would assume, although one wonders how they had access to so many cop cars and rather neat gory elements such as the severed heads). Talent and charm can beat low budget, but I wouldn't say there was much talent involved here. Charm then? Well, here and there, but the movie fails to tell an evocative tale, this is mostly cheesy exploitation, even if I'm not exactly sure of what the director (/makers) intended.
It was just barely worth my while, because I'm interested in many serial killer cases, but it took me several sessions to muddle through it. I would advise anyone to go watch 'Dahmer' (2002) or read the comic 'My friend Dahmer'; they have lots more to offer in atmosphere, a gripping story, etc.. Still, for serial killer (Jeffrey Dahmer) completists...
A small 5 out of 10.