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"Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" is the latest true-crime dramatization to feature a famously good-looking actor as an infamous murderer. Evan Peters stars as the titular real-life serial killer in the September 2022 release, following the likes of Ross Lynch as Dahmer in 2017's "My Friend Dahmer," Zac Efron as Ted Bundy in 2019's "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile," and many others. But despite its high production value, successful ratings, and supposed aim to educate its audience, the series is sparking long overdue conversations about how true-crime dramatizations tend to capitalize on shock value, exploit victims while romanticizing perpetrators, and ultimately do more harm than good.

Jeffrey Dahmer was a serial killer who murdered 17 young men and boys between 1978 and 1991. He sought out his victims - mostly Black, Latino, and Asian men - at gay bars, bus stops, and malls, luring them into his home and drugging them before strangling them to death.

“Raising Jeffrey Dahmer” takes a slightly different approach to depicting the life and crimes of the infamous American serial killer, focusing not on the maniac himself, but on his parents, in particular his father. Through this, first time director Rich Ambler is able not only to chart Dahmer’s chilling development, but more importantly to ask questions as to what might have turned him into a killer, and why those closest to him did not realise what he was doing. Originally shot back in 2006, the film is now receiving a region 2 release via Revolver Entertainment on a barebones DVD without extras. The film largely revolves around Jeffrey’s father Lionel (Scott Cordes, also in the likes of “Suspension” and “Saving Grace B. Jones”) and his second wife Sheri (Cathy Barnett), who are forced to look to themselves after his horrific crimes are revealed. As the police (led by exploitation legend...

Sorry it's so late, folks, but there's lots of horror DVDs to choose from coming your way this Tuesday, June 24th, so I hope you’ve been saving your cash!

Cannibal Terror (1980)

Directed by Alain Deruelle

One of the original Video Nasties! This French/Spanish co-production follow a pair of idiotic thieves and their large-breasted accomplice as they kidnap the daughter of a local tycoon and decide that the cannibal-infested jungle is the best hiding spot. True, no one would look for them there! Pretty soon they’re either being eaten alive or trying to escape from being eaten alive. Buy it here!!

The Chilling (1989)

Directed by Deland Nuse & Jack A. Sunseri

Now, I can see the benefits of having a cryogenics lab, freezing bodies to preserve them and bring them back when a cure is found for whatever is making them sick, but you’d hope they’d have...