True crime and serial killers are all the rage these days. From documentaries, to docuseries, to fictional series based on true events, serial killers are a strange part of popular media. Moreover, they are idolized and placed on a pedestal for certain images. Serial killers become the favorite characters of all TV series and audiences seem to justify their murders. What makes audiences love these serial killers so much, despite the atrocities they commit?
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Hollywood and television producers have taken note of the obvious interest in true crime and have given that interest an extra edge, not only delving into the gruesome details of their crimes, but also allowing us to get to know each of the killers on a more intimate level. In every show and series, we get the opportunity to delve deeply into the worldview and mentality of the killer, and even understand what difficulties he faced as a child, which prompted him to commit terrible acts. Viewers sympathize with the killer protagonist because we get to know him and see him in everyday life when he is doing completely ordinary things, like going to the grocery store or washing clothes. This can lead to unhealthy support for wrongdoing because they appear to be the same as us, or that they are justified in some way because of their trauma.
Is Dexter bad if he kills other bad guys?
Since 2006, Dexter has made audiences fall in love with the introspective, smart and affable cold-blooded killer, no matter how much mutilation he commits on screen. Dexter has now run for 8 seasons and even spawned a new series, Dexter: New Blood, and viewers look to Dexter Morgan (Michael C Hall) as the good guy. In the series, Dexter is an analyst who works for the Miami PD and helps solve crimes while committing his own crimes. He is a serial killer who only preys on those who have also committed heinous acts or are simply downright bad people. Because his father taught him as a child that this was normal, he feels justified in his murders. Throughout the series, viewers come to like Dexter because he believes he is morally right in his desire to only harm bad guys. We also see him go through relationship difficulties, show kindness to his girlfriend and her children, and help his family and friends succeed. But a bad guy who hurts bad guys is still a bad guy, and that gets lost in translation because we think we know Dexter Morgan.
Fictional versions of real killers have become romanticized
One of the most popular films recently has been “Dahmer the Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.” The show was #XNUMX in popularity worldwide for two weeks back in September. The show begins with Dahmer being caught and then takes us through his tragic home life and the traumas along the way that pushed him to become the killer we know today. Evan Peters gives a great performance as Jeffrey Dahmer, bringing his talents to the screen by method acting for months to get into character. The series is incredibly graphic, and many victims' families have spoken of being retraumatized by the series' authenticity. On social media, Dahmer has generated enormous romanticization of Jeffrey Dahmer. Instagram, TikTok and Twitter erupted with comments about how attractive Evan Peters is as Jeff, despite having seen reality-based scenes of the man engaging in cannibalism and storing decapitated heads in his refrigerator. Using a popular and attractive star to portray a killer tricks viewers into rooting for the villain because he is portrayed by a charismatic and attractive actor.
We see something similar in the movie Very Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile when Zac Efron plays the role of Ted Bundy. Zac Efron was one of America's sweethearts for a while as Troy in High School Musical. When you see Efron's face, it's hard not to trust him and be charmed by his mannerisms. It's a similar case with Darren Criss, who plays Andrew Cunanan in American Crime Story, another attractive star portraying a cold-blooded killer. Compounding the romanticization is that all of these series mentioned are based on real people who committed real heinous crimes. The relatable and deep characters we see, coupled with the attractive lead star, create a recipe for disaster and the idolization of serial killers.
Joe Goldberg, cute stalker/assassin
Additionally, You's Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) has had a loyal following since the series' premiere in 2018. You is about Joe, who is so obsessed with making Beck (Elizabeth Lail) fall in love with him that he manipulates her every interaction to create the perfect conditions for her to become interested in him. This drives Joe to kill her friends, and he ends up kidnapping Beck and keeping her in a basement vault. By holding her captive, he tries to make her feel guilty about being a murderer because he has childhood trauma. Despite the fact that Joe is a stalker, a liar, a manipulator and a murderer, audiences love him.
Penn Badgley, the actor who plays Joe, has repeatedly said that he despises his character. The audience was rooting for Joe because they want him to find true love, no matter what the cost. In each episode, we hear Joe's internal monologue with himself, and it helps to feel that we know him and sympathize with the pain, sadness or anger that he feels. Even if this show isn't based on a true story, it's still hard for viewers to support the killer because you get to know him and understand his trauma, which doesn't justify committing murder.
Killer attraction
These are just a few recent examples where the plot encourages us to sympathize and even root for the killer. Chucky, Hannibal, and The Fall are some other examples where fans can't help but watch in adoration as a sadistic killer does whatever he wants and kills whoever he wants. Human nature is such that it is attracted to attempts to understand and conceptualize evil. A story can be given a new twist when empathy for the killer adds a layer of depth, which is why shows continue to focus on making the killer the main character. Audiences love a good anti-hero, but when it comes to a serial killer like Joe Goldberg or Ted Bundy, is that the right title?
It's like viewers are being asked to brush off horrific crimes because it's just a TV show or a movie and not reality, because they're seeing Evan Peters or Zac Efron on screen and not the real Jeffrey Dahmer or Ted Bundy. As amazing as these shows are, you can't help but feel like they're setting viewers up to idolize the person most likely to kill or harm them if given the chance, no matter how plausible they might seem. .
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