My Friend Dahmer

Name: My Friend Dahmer
Genre: Biography, Drama, Thriller, Horror, Crime
Released: November 3, 2017
Duration: 107 min
Rating: 68
Cast: Adam Kroloff, Alex Wolff, Anne Heche, Brady M.K. Dunn, Cameron McKendry

2017

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Ratings

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My Friend Dahmer

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Movie Details & Credits

Not Rated

Altitude Film Entertainment | Release Date: November 3, 2017

Starring: Adam Kroloff, Alex Wolff, Anne Heche, Brady M.K. Dunn, Cameron McKendry, Dallas Roberts, Dontez James, Harrison Holzer, Lily Kozub, Michael Ryan Boehm, Miles Robbins, Ross Lynch, Tommy Nelson, Vincent Kartheiser, Zachary Davis Brown

Summary: Jeff Dahmer (Ross Lynch) is an awkward teenager struggling to make it through high school with a family life in ruins. He collects roadkill, fixates on a neighborhood jogger (Vincent Kartheiser, “Mad Men”), and copes with his unstable mother (Anne Heche) and well-intentioned father (Dallas Roberts). He begins to act out at school, and hisJeff Dahmer (Ross Lynch) is an awkward teenager struggling to make it through high school with a family life in ruins. He collects roadkill, fixates on a neighborhood jogger (Vincent Kartheiser, “Mad Men”), and copes with his unstable mother (Anne Heche) and well-intentioned father (Dallas Roberts). He begins to act out at school, and his goofball antics win over a group of band-nerds who form The Dahmer Fan Club, headed by Derf Backderf (Alex Wolff, "Patriots Day"). But this camaraderie can’t mask his growing depravity. Approaching graduation, Jeff spirals further out of control, inching ever closer to madness.… Expand

Director: Marc Meyers

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Thriller, Horror, Crime

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 107 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

The Hollywood Reporter - Sheri Linden

Oct 31, 2017

In its fusion of craft and narrative, My Friend Dahmer is exquisite. In its portrayal of Jeff's agonies, it can be excruciating. Read full review

IGN - William Bibbiani

Nov 7, 2017

Unsettlingly intimate, and nearly bursting with dread, My Friend Dahmer is an intriguing biopic about the early life of one of America’s most notorious serial killers, with an extraordinary and breakout per-formance by Ross Lynch at its center. Read full review

Vanity Fair - Richard Lawson

Dec 9, 2017

My Friend Dahmer doesn’t present some rueful wish that, oh, young Jeffrey might have made it if only someone had reached out to him. But it does extend him some human compassion, letting us see how the tragedy of his loneliness, spurred by the horror of his dark compulsions, made pre-murderous Dahmer something of a victim himself. Read full review

New York Magazine (Vulture) - David Edelstein

Nov 6, 2017

It would be misleading to call My Friend Dahmer “entertaining,” but I got off on its fuzzy sense of dread, its poker-faced ghoulishness. Read full review

Austin Chronicle - Richard Whittaker

Nov 15, 2017

My Friend Dahmer becomes one of the year’s most chilling true-life dramas. Read full review

Empire - Alex Godfrey

Jun 4, 2018

A small, slight window into a mixed-up soul, this is more intriguing than engaging. Its restraint, though, is admirable, resulting in a mood-piece with an ongoing sense of unease. Read full review

The Film Stage - Jared Mobarak

Nov 2, 2017

If we’re not supposed to pity Dahmer while watching the unfortunate progression of his sad life, why are we watching? Is it to reinforce the notion that he was always a monster? Or is it to forgive Derf (Alex Wolff) and his buds for assisting in his descent? In the end it really doesn’t matter because we don’t buy any of it. Read full review

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User Reviews

BrickNGames

Apr 7, 2018

This is truly an amazing movie. It is the first time I have experienced these levels of "horror cringe," and I think it's because what happens in this movie actually happened. You know what Dahmer's intentions are but the people in the movie do not. This makes some scenes extremelyThis is truly an amazing movie. It is the first time I have experienced these levels of "horror cringe," and I think it's because what happens in this movie actually happened. You know what Dahmer's intentions are but the people in the movie do not. This makes some scenes extremely unsettling. They actually shot scenes in real locations like Dahmer's actual childhood home, which I praise them for. This movie also does a great job at showing how Dahmer was impacted by the events of his life to act how he did, it doesn't portray him as a complete psycho or freak, but rather an emotional, struggling young man. Ross Lynch plays his role as Dahmer excellently, I'm no expert on how Dahmer actually acted (and no one really knows how he might've acted when alone), but I find that the way he is portrayed in this movie makes you weirdly get attached to him since you feel bad for him, which makes it all the more horrifying when he is doing/planning malicious things. I felt like I was actually there in the events of this movie since it seemed all too real, since the atmosphere and actors were very good. The way this movie ended off was also brilliant, for many reasons, but I will not go into detail incase it would be a spoiler for anyone.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GinaK

Nov 20, 2017

Want to see a real horror movie? Then see “My Friend Dahmer” and watch a serial killer of the worst kind in the making. It’s not really Dahmer’s fault – his mother is madly manic (a superb performance by Anne Heche) and his father is unable to cope. His “friends” at school treat him like aWant to see a real horror movie? Then see “My Friend Dahmer” and watch a serial killer of the worst kind in the making. It’s not really Dahmer’s fault – his mother is madly manic (a superb performance by Anne Heche) and his father is unable to cope. His “friends” at school treat him like a freak and urge him to act like a “spaz,” which they find hysterically funny, of course. No one notices that Dahmer has serious problems and is slowly going out of control. This is a sad and scary film, and I hope the film as a whole, its director, Anne Heche, and its star (Ross Lynch) receive recognition from “independent spirit” awards if not from the establishment.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

3ebfan511

Jul 14, 2018

Unique film that shows a serial killer as a person, and not a "bad guy" that just terrorizes people like in most films. As a kid Dahmer was seen as at times funny, possibly even slightly popular, while also troubled, odd, a loner, and a bunch of other things. I found it really interesting,Unique film that shows a serial killer as a person, and not a "bad guy" that just terrorizes people like in most films. As a kid Dahmer was seen as at times funny, possibly even slightly popular, while also troubled, odd, a loner, and a bunch of other things. I found it really interesting, and well done, although it is slow paced at least early on so..watch it late at night. Very mesmerizing for a late-night watch, and a unique take on a serial killer that actually made me feel kindof sorry for the guy. Unique take on the genre, and a well done film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MattBrady99

Nov 10, 2017

LIFF31 2017 #3

"I think we should form a Dahmer fan club." "My Friend Dahmer" takes a comedic turn on Jeffrey Dahmer's story. Focusing on the back story without the kills. Ross Lynch, best known for the Disney channel, which isn't a joke or an insult. Anywhere, through out the film LynchLIFF31 2017 #3

"I think we should form a Dahmer fan club."

"My Friend Dahmer" takes a comedic turn on Jeffrey Dahmer's story. Focusing on the back story without the kills. Ross Lynch, best known for the Disney channel, which isn't a joke or an insult. Anywhere, through out the film Lynch pulls a pouty face and trying to look insane. Not saying he was bad, just needed to dial it back a bit. Other than that, decent effort.

Putting aside some terrible acting and awkward humor; we assume a film like this would fall completely flat on it's face, which didn't happen here. While not great, but it at least deserves some praise of making this come together. Marc Meyers focus on what Dahmer could've been if the darkness didn't take over him.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

tipar

Sep 29, 2018

A 6 because I can not vote with a 5'5 and I always round up. NO HORROR, more a Black Comedy than Horror. Slow but well done and acted.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TVJerry

Dec 14, 2017

Former Disney Channel star Ross Lynch goes deep with this departure from his previous TV fare. He play the titular character, who later became notorious when he confessed to raping, killing, dismembering and cannibalizing 17 men. This film doesn't detail any of that, but pre-shows hisFormer Disney Channel star Ross Lynch goes deep with this departure from his previous TV fare. He play the titular character, who later became notorious when he confessed to raping, killing, dismembering and cannibalizing 17 men. This film doesn't detail any of that, but pre-shows his awkward teen years. It exposes the family influences and twisted inclinations that would later develop into his depravity. Lynch plays the role with a pronounced slump and a deadpan demeanor, but manages to bring sensitivity to the intimate and sometimes uncomfortable portrayal. Anne Heche turns in an awkward, quirky performance as his mother. This intriguing curiosity doesn't have much dramatic impact and is a film that would be rendered uninteresting if we didn't know what the future held for Dahmer and his victims.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

psychomuse

Jun 30, 2018

It tells the macabre story of Jeffrey Dahmer, which is certainly engrossing material (like any tragedy that ends with grisly deaths). Unfortunately, the whole thing feels like an afterschool special with overwrought acting and patronizing dialogue. The story is true and it is what it is, butIt tells the macabre story of Jeffrey Dahmer, which is certainly engrossing material (like any tragedy that ends with grisly deaths). Unfortunately, the whole thing feels like an afterschool special with overwrought acting and patronizing dialogue. The story is true and it is what it is, but this movie could have been made so much better.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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