Dahmer
2/4
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Artel Kayaru, Matt Newton, Bruce Davison, Kate Williamson, Dion Basco
Rated R for Aberrant Violence, Sexuality, Language and Some Drug Use
Surely a figure as notorious and horrifying as Jeffrey Dahmer, convicted cannibalistic serial killer, deserves a more compelling biopic than this. Strictly speaking, this is less of a biopic than a character study, but despite the best efforts of its star, "Dahmer" fails to develop Jeffrey into a three dimensional figure.
"Dahmer" doesn't really have much of a plot. Instead, it's mostly a series of interactions between Jeffrey (Renner) and three men: a gay man named Rodney (Kayaru), a straight teen named Lance (Newton), and his father, Lionel (Davison). Interspersed with it are montages and clips of Jeffrey.
What saves this film from being a complete and utter waste of time are the performances. All four leads are excellent. Renner can always be counted on for a performance that's at least interesting ("The Bourne Legacy" being the exception). The actor buries himself into the role, which is impressive since there's really not much for him to work with. Jeffrey is antisocial and socially awkward, but craves human connection. That's not original at all, but Renner imbues the character with life. Also good are Artel Kayaru and Matt Newton. Kayaru has the difficult task of making a character seem fresh and lively when we first meet him, but annoying by the end. Kayaru handles it effortlessly. Matt Newton plays Lance as a straight teen who gets in over his head. He's also very good (ironically, he played a gay teen in "Poster Boy" two years later).
In terms of how it's put together and what does and does not work, "Dahmer" brings to mind Steve McQueen's "Hunger." Fortunately, "Dahmer" is better (although not successful) because co-writer/director David Jacobsen actually gives the characters the opportunity to talk and interact, rather than going McQueen's route and showing random, bizarre images. Jacobsen tries to tell it in three chords, but it doesn't really work because the characters are so undeveloped.
There's always a perverse fascination with death and depravity, and there's always that in a serial killer movie. Especially a character study of one. But what holds "Dahmer" back is that all three of its leads are undeveloped. We don't know anything about them. Dahmer is especially disappointing, not least of which is because he's the central character. But we really don't learn anything about him. We don't learn of the circumstances that got him to where he is or the compulsions that drive him. In the end, he becomes just another misfit who happens to brutally drug, rape and murder men.
Considering the subject matter, I can't decide whether or not I should be glad that the film didn't go as far as it should have. One one hand, it would have been compelling filmmaking, but on the other, it would have been incredibly disturbing (and it's already quite unsettling as it is). It really doesn't matter, since the film that we have just isn't worth seeing.
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Artel Kayaru, Matt Newton, Bruce Davison, Kate Williamson, Dion Basco
Rated R for Aberrant Violence, Sexuality, Language and Some Drug Use
Surely a figure as notorious and horrifying as Jeffrey Dahmer, convicted cannibalistic serial killer, deserves a more compelling biopic than this. Strictly speaking, this is less of a biopic than a character study, but despite the best efforts of its star, "Dahmer" fails to develop Jeffrey into a three dimensional figure.
"Dahmer" doesn't really have much of a plot. Instead, it's mostly a series of interactions between Jeffrey (Renner) and three men: a gay man named Rodney (Kayaru), a straight teen named Lance (Newton), and his father, Lionel (Davison). Interspersed with it are montages and clips of Jeffrey.
What saves this film from being a complete and utter waste of time are the performances. All four leads are excellent. Renner can always be counted on for a performance that's at least interesting ("The Bourne Legacy" being the exception). The actor buries himself into the role, which is impressive since there's really not much for him to work with. Jeffrey is antisocial and socially awkward, but craves human connection. That's not original at all, but Renner imbues the character with life. Also good are Artel Kayaru and Matt Newton. Kayaru has the difficult task of making a character seem fresh and lively when we first meet him, but annoying by the end. Kayaru handles it effortlessly. Matt Newton plays Lance as a straight teen who gets in over his head. He's also very good (ironically, he played a gay teen in "Poster Boy" two years later).
In terms of how it's put together and what does and does not work, "Dahmer" brings to mind Steve McQueen's "Hunger." Fortunately, "Dahmer" is better (although not successful) because co-writer/director David Jacobsen actually gives the characters the opportunity to talk and interact, rather than going McQueen's route and showing random, bizarre images. Jacobsen tries to tell it in three chords, but it doesn't really work because the characters are so undeveloped.
There's always a perverse fascination with death and depravity, and there's always that in a serial killer movie. Especially a character study of one. But what holds "Dahmer" back is that all three of its leads are undeveloped. We don't know anything about them. Dahmer is especially disappointing, not least of which is because he's the central character. But we really don't learn anything about him. We don't learn of the circumstances that got him to where he is or the compulsions that drive him. In the end, he becomes just another misfit who happens to brutally drug, rape and murder men.
Considering the subject matter, I can't decide whether or not I should be glad that the film didn't go as far as it should have. One one hand, it would have been compelling filmmaking, but on the other, it would have been incredibly disturbing (and it's already quite unsettling as it is). It really doesn't matter, since the film that we have just isn't worth seeing.
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