Review by Marty Mapes
Rather than exploitative, trashy, and made for TV, Dahmer is an art-house movie that treats its subject with seriousness, curiosity, and sensitivity, although that doesn't necessarily mean it lets Jeffrey Dahmer off easy.

The movie tells the story of the notorious serial killer in two timelines. The first one we see is the older Dahmer. He works in a chocolate factory and picks up gay men after his shift. The other timeline shows a younger Jeffrey trying to convince his father that he's a normal teenager with typical teenage troubles, even though he has already slipped into murder and madness.

The key to this movie is the portrayal of Jeffrey Dahmer, which is outstanding. Up-and-comer Jeremy Renner looks a little like Tobey Maguire. He has that same shy, everyday, boy-next-door quality, mixed with some repressed energy. Renner brings to life both the older, more self-assured Dahmer, and the younger, terrified, self-loathing teenager.

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