Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story – Fact vs. fiction in Netflix’s anthology series explained

Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story portrayed a dark tale of serial killings and the plight of innocent victims who fell prey to one of the most infamous killers, Jeffrey Dahmer.

Netflix adapted the story into a crime drama series in 2022. Upon release, the show dominated streaming platforms, but its massive viewership could not stop some serious backlash and controversy.

The Netflix representation of his story has many facts accurately portrayed, while some were not, bringing in a debate on ethics and accuracy. Dahmer had killed and brutally disfigured over 17 men and boys.

Some of the victim families have spoken out about the depiction, expressing their feelings. However, throughout its 10 episodes, it has delivered a bone-chilling tale of horror, enacted by a talented cast and yellow-tinged frames.

Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story – Fact vs. fiction in Netflix’s anthology series explained

What the show got right:

One of the most spine-tingling aspects of watching the show is its depiction of murders and the plans he made to draw in unsuspecting victims to his trap. Accurate portrayals of courtroom drama, victim escape, and police negligence are all details that add to the haunting realism of the show.

Let's break down what the show got right before we move on to what was altered:

1. Courtroom emotions and victim families:

Dahmer killed 17 men and boys in his notorious serial killing spree. The youngest victim was 14 years old when he was murdered. It is clearly understandable how the families were hurt and infuriated after losing their loved ones to a cold-hearted killer.

The intense, emotional victim impact statements in the show were accurately portrayed almost scene by scene, using real footage. However, the surroundings leading to the scene were depicted slightly differently. The victim families’ intense emotions were rendered nearly accurate from the public record. This includes the killer's eerily calm apology.

2. Dahmer dug up a grave:

Before starting his murderous spree, Dahmer engaged in the extreme activity of digging up the grave of a young man who had recently died. He went so far as to trace the photo of the victim and even attended the funeral, and at night, he tried to dig up his grave to steal his corpse.

He failed, but his chilling and disturbing tendencies accurately found a place in episode 5 of the Netflix crime drama.

3. Joyce Dahmer wanted to kill himself:

Joyce Dahmer, Jeffrey's mother, moved out of the Dahmer house. The series accurately depicted the turbulent and unstable marriage of Dahmer's parents. After their oldest son died while in jail, Joyce also tried to take her own life.

It is no new fact that his childhood was very disturbed, and due to lots of conflicts, he grew up in isolation.

4. Dahmer's game- The Infinity Land:

In episode 6, Dahmer is seen describing his own invented game with Tony Hughes. He indeed invented this game around a concept like this: if two people came closer to each other, one of them would be transported to a black hole.

This game says much about Dahmer's own intentions. He murders and dismembers Hughes after bringing him to his home.

What the show got wrong (or with a number of alterations)

5. The Fictional Award:

The show depicts a scene that, even though many believed happened in reality, did not occur. Officers John and Joseph never got any awards, nor did anybody clap for them, as per the series.

They were fired by the Milwaukee Police Chief for negligence in failing to protect Dahmer's youngest victim, Konerak Sinthasomphone.

6. Shouting at Grandma:

The show depicted Dahmer violently confronting his Grandma for throwing away his mannequin. Well, in reality, Dahmer threw the belongings himself after his Grandma found out about it.

7. Drinking blood:

Jeffrey Dahmer's habit of engaging in cannibalism is a well-known part of his grim history. The Netflix series, to highlight his dark character, planted a scene that did not happen in reality.

Jeffrey was once employed at the Milwaukee Blood Plasma Center. The series depicted him consuming a bag of blood at home after he stole it from the center.

In reality, he only confessed to taking a small amount of blood, tasting it, and immediately spitting it out. The show highlighted this detail to add a more extensive, grotesque side to his already disturbing character.

Also read: DAHMER controversy explained: The real reasons behind Netflix’s biggest backlash