Dahmer (film)
Encyclopedia
Dahmer is a 2002 American biopic
about the American
serial killer
Jeffrey Dahmer
. Jeremy Renner
stars in the title role.
There are two timelines in the film: The "present" of the film runs in ordinary chronological order covering the period of one-to-two days; the flashbacks go in reverse order, so that we see Dahmer in successively younger and younger events until we arrive at his first murder and its aftermath.
(Jeremy Renner
) conducts sadistic experiments on his victims before he murders them. He killed 17 men in this way in Bath
, Ohio
and the metropolitan area of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
. At the same time, he rationalizes his crimes with the divorce
of his parents and his emotionally isolated childhood. Nevertheless, he can't stop inviting more and more young men from bars and clubs to his home, where he kills them. Only when the young Rodney (Artel Kayàru
) escapes from Dahmer's apartment are the authorities able to arrest him.
as Rodney, and Dahmer's first victim was a man named Stephen Hicks, portrayed in the film by Matt Newton
as Lance Bell.
Production took place in Los Angeles
and one scene in Milwaukee. The mask special effects were created by Christien Tinsley and Kelley Mitchell, who were involved two years later in the makeup of Mel Gibson
's The Passion of the Christ
.
, Kathryn Bigelow
said that she cast Renner in the lead role because of his performance in Dahmer.
Biographical film
A biographical film, or biopic , is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or people. They differ from films “based on a true story” or “historical films” in that they attempt to comprehensively tell a person’s life story or at least the most historically important years of their...
about the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
Jeffrey Dahmer
Jeffrey Dahmer
Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer was an American serial killer and sex offender. Dahmer murdered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991, with the majority of the murders occurring between 1987 and 1991. His murders involved rape, dismemberment, necrophilia and cannibalism...
. Jeremy Renner
Jeremy Renner
Jeremy Lee Renner is a two-time Academy-Award-nominated American actor and musician. Renner appeared in films throughout the 2000s, mostly in supporting roles. He came to prominence in films such as Dahmer , S.W.A.T. , Neo Ned , 28 Weeks Later and The Hurt Locker...
stars in the title role.
There are two timelines in the film: The "present" of the film runs in ordinary chronological order covering the period of one-to-two days; the flashbacks go in reverse order, so that we see Dahmer in successively younger and younger events until we arrive at his first murder and its aftermath.
Plot
During his murder spree, Jeffrey DahmerJeffrey Dahmer
Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer was an American serial killer and sex offender. Dahmer murdered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991, with the majority of the murders occurring between 1987 and 1991. His murders involved rape, dismemberment, necrophilia and cannibalism...
(Jeremy Renner
Jeremy Renner
Jeremy Lee Renner is a two-time Academy-Award-nominated American actor and musician. Renner appeared in films throughout the 2000s, mostly in supporting roles. He came to prominence in films such as Dahmer , S.W.A.T. , Neo Ned , 28 Weeks Later and The Hurt Locker...
) conducts sadistic experiments on his victims before he murders them. He killed 17 men in this way in Bath
Bath Township, Summit County, Ohio
Bath Township is one of the nine townships of Summit County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 9,635 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the western part of the county, it borders the following townships and cities:...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and the metropolitan area of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. At the same time, he rationalizes his crimes with the divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
of his parents and his emotionally isolated childhood. Nevertheless, he can't stop inviting more and more young men from bars and clubs to his home, where he kills them. Only when the young Rodney (Artel Kayàru
Artel Jarod Walker
Artel Walker is an American film and television actor currently using the stage name Artel Great. Under the name Artel Kayaru, he received a 2003 Independent Spirit Award nomination for 'Best Debut Performance' for his work in the 2002 film Dahmer.-Film:*Light It Up *Save the Last Dance *Dahmer...
) escapes from Dahmer's apartment are the authorities able to arrest him.
Cast
- The real-life counterpart to the fictional victim is in parentheses
- Jeremy RennerJeremy RennerJeremy Lee Renner is a two-time Academy-Award-nominated American actor and musician. Renner appeared in films throughout the 2000s, mostly in supporting roles. He came to prominence in films such as Dahmer , S.W.A.T. , Neo Ned , 28 Weeks Later and The Hurt Locker...
as Jeffrey DahmerJeffrey DahmerJeffrey Lionel Dahmer was an American serial killer and sex offender. Dahmer murdered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991, with the majority of the murders occurring between 1987 and 1991. His murders involved rape, dismemberment, necrophilia and cannibalism... - Bruce DavisonBruce DavisonBruce Davison is an American actor and director.-Early life:Davison was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Marian E. , a secretary, and Clair W. Davison, a musician, architect, and draftsman for the Army Engineers. His parents divorced when he was three years old. He was raised by his...
as Lionel Dahmer - Artel KayàruArtel Jarod WalkerArtel Walker is an American film and television actor currently using the stage name Artel Great. Under the name Artel Kayaru, he received a 2003 Independent Spirit Award nomination for 'Best Debut Performance' for his work in the 2002 film Dahmer.-Film:*Light It Up *Save the Last Dance *Dahmer...
as Rodney (Tracy Edwards) - Matt NewtonMatt NewtonMatthew Collins "Matt" Newton is an American actor.-Early life:Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Matt Newton was raised in Guilford, Connecticut. He is of English descent and began performing musicals and plays at local theaters while in high school...
as Lance Bell (Stephen Hicks) - Dion BascoDion BascoDion Basco is an American film and television actor of Filipino heritage. His brothers, Dante, Darion and Derek Basco are also actors. He is best known for his roles as Alberto "Al" Ramos on the NBC television sitcom, City Guys and as Flip in the 2003 film, Biker Boyz. Dion played Marco Quito in...
as Khamtay (Konerak Sinthasomphone) - Kate Williamson as Grandma
- Christian Payano as Letitia
- Tom'ya Bowden as Shawna
- Sean BlakemoreSean BlakemoreSean Blakemore is an African American actor who is currently portraying Shawn Butler on the ABC daytime drama General Hospital, a role he began playing on January 21, 2011 on a recurring basis...
as Corliss
- Jeremy Renner
Production
Although the script recreates actual events, the names are changed out of respect for Dahmer's victims. In reality, the escapee who led to Dahmer's capture was Tracy Edwards, portrayed by Artel KayàruArtel Jarod Walker
Artel Walker is an American film and television actor currently using the stage name Artel Great. Under the name Artel Kayaru, he received a 2003 Independent Spirit Award nomination for 'Best Debut Performance' for his work in the 2002 film Dahmer.-Film:*Light It Up *Save the Last Dance *Dahmer...
as Rodney, and Dahmer's first victim was a man named Stephen Hicks, portrayed in the film by Matt Newton
Matt Newton
Matthew Collins "Matt" Newton is an American actor.-Early life:Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Matt Newton was raised in Guilford, Connecticut. He is of English descent and began performing musicals and plays at local theaters while in high school...
as Lance Bell.
Production took place in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and one scene in Milwaukee. The mask special effects were created by Christien Tinsley and Kelley Mitchell, who were involved two years later in the makeup of Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson
Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...
's The Passion of the Christ
The Passion of the Christ
The Passion of the Christ is a 2004 American drama film directed by Mel Gibson and starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus. It depicts the Passion of Jesus largely according to the New Testament Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John...
.
Legacy
In the DVD commentary track for The Hurt LockerThe Hurt Locker
The Hurt Locker is a 2009 American war film about a three-man United States Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team during the Iraq War. The film was directed by Kathryn Bigelow and the screenplay was written by Mark Boal, a freelance writer who was embedded as a journalist in 2004 with a US bomb...
, Kathryn Bigelow
Kathryn Bigelow
Kathryn Ann Bigelow is an American film director. Her best-known films are the cult horror film Near Dark , the surfer/bank robbery action picture Point Break , the science fiction/film noir Strange Days , the historical/mystery film The Weight of Water and the war drama The Hurt Locker...
said that she cast Renner in the lead role because of his performance in Dahmer.
Awards
- Independent Spirit Award - Jeremy RennerJeremy RennerJeremy Lee Renner is a two-time Academy-Award-nominated American actor and musician. Renner appeared in films throughout the 2000s, mostly in supporting roles. He came to prominence in films such as Dahmer , S.W.A.T. , Neo Ned , 28 Weeks Later and The Hurt Locker...
(Best Male Actor in a Leading Role) (nominated) - Independent Spirit Award - Artel Kayàru (Best Newcomer) (nominated)
- John CassavetesJohn CassavetesJohn Nicholas Cassavetes was an American actor, screenwriter and filmmaker. He acted in many Hollywood films, notably Rosemary's Baby and The Dirty Dozen...
Award - Larry Ratner and David Jacobson (nominated)