Common Sense Media Review
By Polly Conway
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Salacious true crime story has sex, violence, cruelty.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 21 parent reviews
Parents say that this show is compelling yet extremely graphic and is not suitable for younger viewers, with most recommending it for adults only. While some reviewers note the portrayal of themes surrounding Jeffrey Dahmer is well-executed and engaging, many emphasize the importance of parental guidance due to its disturbing content and mature themes.
- graphic content
- mature themes
- not for children
- strong performances
- parental guidance
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 28 kid reviews
What's the Story?
MONSTER: THE JEFFREY DAHMER STORY begins with the escape of the serial killer's last potential victim. Through flashback and storytelling from the time he was caught (early '90s), the series explores the life and history of Dahmer (Evan Peters) and how he came to be one of the most notorious serial killers in history.
Is It Any Good?
This salacious series is both hard to watch and hard to take your eyes off of. Very little time is given to the victims and their families in Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story -- instead the series goes into great detail about Dahmer's family life, state of mind, and choices. While not quite campy, it treats the real-life (and really horrible) subject somewhat lightly, not unlike Ryan Murphy's previous series about a murderer, The Assassination of Gianni Versace. This particular crime story, while enjoyable as a drama, ultimately feels empty and uncomfortable.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about true crime shows. How do you think a story like this is best told? Is it necessary to retell at all? Why or why not?
Why do you think people want to hear stories about bad people? What makes them interesting?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 21, 2022
- Cast : Evan Peters , Richard Jenkins , Molly Ringwald , Niecy Nash
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Awards : Emmy - Emmy Award Winner , NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Winner
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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