Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer confesses to his heinous crimes in never-before-seen interviews that provide a disturbing perspective on a broken mind.
Jeffrey Dahmer: Self Portrait of a Killer, a documentary series created by Joe Berlinger.
if the name Joe Berlinger It doesn’t mean anything to you, it’s simple: he’s one of the most prolific directors and producers in the crime scene. It was he who directed the film about Ted Bundy with Zac Efron and many documentary series for Netflix. Its third season, Self Portrait of a Killer, explores the case of Jeffrey Dahmer, otherwise known as the Milwaukee Cannibal.
The serial killer has been in the news for a few weeks now, following the phenomenal success of the series created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan – which was released on September 21st. These two projects are only thematically related, but it’s hard to ignore the timing. Is another documentary really necessary? Most importantly, does it bring anything new?
Jeffrey Dahmer: Self Portrait of a Murderer It mainly relies on the criminal’s exclusive recordings during his interrogation. While the series directed by Evan Peters follows the point of view of the killer and the victim, this documentary presents the facts through the eyes of the court and the police teams – with a few exceptions.
Jeffrey Dahmer’s lawyer speaks
In front of the camera, we can hear the testimony of the Milwaukee attorney general, a forensic psychiatrist, a lieutenant assigned to the crime squad, or even television reporters who have been involved in the case at their level for more than 30 years. Among these numerous testimonies, one in particular stands out, that of Wendy Patrickus.
In July 1991, he is a young attorney who has just moved to the city of Milwaukee. When his boss asks him to protect Jeffrey Dahmer, he accepts. This is the first time in his career.
Attorney Wendy Patrickus with her client Jeffrey Dahmer.
Wendy Patrickus recounts her encounter with the killer, her memories of the time, and the details of her client’s confidence. He especially emphasizes his calmness and politeness, an attitude that is so at odds with the actions he commits. Her word is spread throughout the documentary series, from her first relationship with Jeffrey Dahmer to her sentencing.
This self-portrait of a killer consists of three episodes: first, Sympathy for the devil, returns to the July 1991 arrest and criminal background; second, can i take your picture, on the mechanics of his kills back in the late 80s; and lastly, Evil or crazy?Based on the 1992 trial and subsequent results of the case.
While these three installments go a bit further into the details of Scarborough – supported by images and archival videos – the overall theme remains largely the same as in the series. It has to be said that the fiction of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan is very perfect and ends up getting a little far from reality.
I’m not sure that the expertise of the forensic and police teams is enough to convince viewers to find new information. Jeffrey Dahmer: Self-Portrait of a Killer remains a well-produced documentary, but it suffers from comparisons to the earlier series.
Jeffrey Dahmer: Self Portrait is available on Netflix.
Source: allocine
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
