Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes

Truly touching and devastating tale about the human monstrosity. It gives us a look into the mind and life of Jeffrey Dahmer, even though they could have done a much deeper dive into the psychology of it all. Some things were poorly explained, including his potential diagnosis and the cannibalism aspect. It was interesting to hear different perspectives from various people about the story. Labelling these tapes as "unheard" was surprising because Dahmer didn't say anything particularly new or unknown to the public. I'd say it's a very well-edited and thought-provoking series that's mostly skilfully constructed, but it lacks depth in some parts.

I have been fascinated yet horrified when I first read about Dahmer crimes back in 2016 I guess. I had no clue what his standing was amongst all serial killers. Then like in last 3 years I have watched pretty much whats available on the internet about him including the 10 part series just released on Netflix. But what this 3 part docuseries has to offer is something that would make you wonder even more, what actually went Dahmers mind. TBH I felt probably a 0.0001% sympathy for him.. But once I heard his actual confessions here with his defense attorney, I was shocked to no end. I mean this takes everything else you would have seen or read about. The shocking details and his chemistry with his young defense attorney. I mean how could they even represent this guy. The prosecution angle is something very very interesting. Theres toness of stuff out there about Dahmer, But this one is the most realistic, as it contains the words of man himself during or around his trial. I lost whatever sympathy I had when I heard about those drillings.

No pun intended - Dahmer seemed to be looking for someone ... because he felt alone. And if you are bleak about life (or realistic), we are alone! Well mostly - hopefully you can find someone that you want to spend your time with. And the same goes for the person when it comes to you. Something that Dahmer was unable to get - or unable to sustain. At least he never felt he could.

There was way more and he was complex on some levels. He was also quite evil - and evil in a sense that he didn't even seem to care. Apart from what it would do to him. He was always in the center of everything. That's why he was not taken aback by the fame he garnered or gathered.

The docu series is ok and works as a companion piece to the show Dahmer - Monster. Which is really good. If you only want to watch one of those two - I'll say watch the other one. Even if it is way longer ... it is worth it, believe me!

Netflix has done the same thing it did the Ted Bundy duo. They released 'Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile' (2019 with Lily Colin's & Zac Efron), and a week later released 'Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes'. The latter being far superior to the former. If I knew 'Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes' was being released, I wouldn't have watched 'Dahmer - Monster'.

These confessional documentary type mini series are full of witness accounts, conversations with his defence attorney, the people who knew the victims & were the last people to see them before Dahmer took their life. This is the stuff that makes a series interesting, news report clips, policemen on the record saying they stand by the actions of those on duty at the time.

Everything is laid out in a very logical fashion. It made things clear which had been muddied by the 'Dahmer - Monster' dramatisation. No recreation. You HEAR the phone call made by the neighbour asking about the 14 year old boy who was found stumbling out the apartment building, no clothes on, incoherent. You HEAR the officer inform her it had "been dealt with" & the boy had been returned to his boyfriend's (Dahmer's) apartment.

The final episode closes off with individual testimony that is deeply respectful to the victims. Their friends, their neighbours talk about the kind souls who were taken by Dahmer. Victim names are repeated, displayed at the end.

The series ended with my thoughts reverent for everyone who had been forever changed by the hurt caused by Dahmer that had spread like a disease in that community. I wish I could erase that Netflix dramatisation from my mind, by comparison it is camp, jumbled and very distanced from the facts.

Interesting and very eerie to hear Dahmers voice speak about these horrific acts, as we have never heard this before.

The thing that bothered me was the over the top and near CONSTANT cut scenes of creepy masks, melted face masks, film, and other super random imagery that honestly reminded me of Gabes Cinema of the Unsettling video from The Office which took me out of it.

The editing was weird and annoying. There's so much information and it would have been absorbed and more compelling if you weren't constantly distracted by the stupid choppy and unrelated videos interspersed throughout. They're trying to overly dramatise something that is already dramatic enough.