I loved this movie. Before watching this, I'd heard bits and pieces of the Jeffrey Dahmer story but had never seen anything with any substance about him. Maybe it's because of that, but Jeremy Renner had me engulfed in the story. I found myself fascinated by the disgusting actions of Dahmer. I watched it about 10 times since.

The first frame of the movie informs us that Dahmer was one of the most notorious killer of all time and he was sentenced to 937 years in prison!! You think that the movie will either tell you about the origin of this evil or will vividly show the kills. Alas, this is a philosophical discussion cum homoerotic dance which happens between Dahmer and one of his intended villain. Jeremy Renner is Dahmer, an unassuming guy who works in an ice cream factory. He is a homosexual. He lures guys to his home, mixes drugs in their drinks and then kills them. He likes a black guy, brings him home and the aforementioned philosophical bullshit starts. This is interspersed with scenes showing Dahmer's youth. Renner shows early hint of his awesome acting prowess but he cannot rise above the horrible script. It was as if the director chose the most boring 90 minutes of Dahmer's life to make the movie. Very disappointed. 1 out of 5 for Dahmer. This killer will bore you to death.

if I had not read so much about J, Dahmer than I think I would have enjoyed this movie far more. It wasn't badly acted or dull but the portrayal of Dahmer wasn't really that factual, you can tell by documentaries and reports that he was a quiet and shy man that wanted to be liked and didn't want to be alone, however this film almost see's him as arrogent. Also many of the details of when Dahmer was younger were wrong (first killing) and this almost made you think that what he was doing wasn't as shocking as what really had happened. Dahmer was a teenage alcoholic and it would have been good to see some of them factors that made him the way he was, also the fascination with road kill. the film wasn't boring but I felt that the portrayal wasn't what I expected and that made me some what frustrated at times. It is defiantly worth watching but if you have read/watched anything about Dahmer than you will understand the vast difference in interpretation.

I'm sure readers will find flaws with what I say, but I'm mostly interested in making sure people watch this movie as a case study rather than an entertaining horror film, which it is not. Jeremy Renner does an amazing job in this film, and he brings Dahmer to life in a haunting, sympathetic way.Serial killer movies are fascinating to me because they study the mind of human beings whose brains aren't wired right. I agree with those who said if you wanted a gore-fest in this movie that you'd be disappointed. But as a case study of a troubled young man who turns to horrible acts to feel good, this movie is interesting. I'm getting my masters in counseling, and when I watch movies like this one, I always find the interactions with the family interesting. Many people have said that Jeffrey Dahmer had a "good upbringing", so why did he turn out so weird? In my opinion, he was born with faulty wiring when it comes to figuring out good and bad, and then he was basically neglected by his family. He did not have a loving family and a good upbringing. His parents know he's strange, but instead of helping him become a better human being, they abandon him. How was he supposed to learn about healthy relationships that way? And battling with his homosexuality on top of that, he didn't have a chance to ever feel happy without some serious help.Overall, I thought the movie was well done. In my opinion, the flashback method gives the viewer the sense of loss-of-control that many sociopaths feel. The scenes where he uses the drugged men as romantic partners, not necessarily just for sex, are uncomfortable, for sure, but they also show Jeffrey's longing for love. He obviously thinks that he would never get romantic attention unless he drugs the men he desires. But the viewer can also see his struggle with this. On the other hand, I wish the movie had gone back to his childhood more. His father is obviously aware that Jeffrey is strange, considering the scene with the mannequin. But how long had his father thought Jeffrey had problems? What had he done in the past to show Jeffrey the revulsion for his own son? Another aspect I find interesting is about Jeffrey's relationships. Sure, he had the one-time deals when he drugged men in the bar, but he also tried to have relationship with people on a recurring basis. He wanted so badly to be a social person and to have relationships, both romantic and platonic, but he had no idea how to actually do that, so he eventually followed his basic urges every time.I think this movie is a sad drama that takes a difficult look at someone who didn't get the help and love he needed when he was younger. Would he have turned out differently if he had gotten those things? We can only wonder and use him as an example of what can happen when mental illness goes unchecked.