Case 2: Attractive Serial Killers – Bundy & Dahmer

Being a fan of true crime, I’ve found the community is often infatuated with the looks of serial killers. Just a simple google search brings up dozens of articles about “the best-looking serial killers”. It’s not uncommon for women to write admiration letters to men behind bars and there have even been cases of marriages between inmates and their ‘fans’. The two most prominent killers who are often listed are Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer. The pair used their charming ways and good looks as a strength in their crimes to lure in victims – especially Bundy. 

Sheila Isenberg, author of ‘Women Who Love Men Who Kill’, says that women often like killers because “it’s an extremely macho thing to kill someone, and there’s a certain segment of women who are turned on by that”. With that said, in an interview with the HuffPost, Isenberg also discusses how the use of constant media coverage and documentaries about these killers often entices women to become deeply interested. 

With the rise in serial killer documentaries, movies and limited series on platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, as well as in the film industry, I wanted to look at two recent features that cast Disney stars in the role of famous serial killers.

The first is the 2017 adaption, “My Friend Dahmer” which explores the high school years of Jeffrey Dahmer. The well-loved Austin and Ally star, Ross Lynch, portrays Dahmer before the 17 killings he was convicted for. While it shows how the troubling events in his teenage years could link to mental illnesses Dahmer displays, it worryingly sets a sympathetic tone towards the killer. In the trailer, Lynch chillingly declares, “I’m just like anybody else”, which is unsettling to the point that fans could misinterpret this. Even though the film is well-executed, the director, Marc Meyers says “it’s the story before ‘that’ story”, which, to me, is damaging because if we separate the troubled story of teenage Dahmer and the well-known crimes that he committed, there will be room for sympathy towards him.

The second and more well-known adaption is the 2019 “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile” starring High School Musical heartthrob, Zac Efron. The casting of Efron as Bundy became a very controversial matter within the true crime community. However, like the situation with Ross Lynch, these two serial killers were known for their good looks, therefore, it was somewhat appropriate. In a way, this movie portrays the romantic relationship between Bundy and his girlfriend at the time, Liz Kendall (played by Lilly Collins). A lot of people disliked the almost romantic-drama feeling of the film; however, it could be argued that the purpose of this portrayal was accurate to Bundy due to his notorious charming ways. Like “My Friend Dahmer”, there is a sympathetic undertone to Bundy, however, unlike the other film his crimes are mentioned in the film explicitly which is important in reminding the audience of the harsh reality but they aren’t shown much in re-enactment. 

Between these two films, it’s evident that serial killers will forever be romanticised through fans and adaptions of their stories. The film and tv industry provide a tricky area for true crime, especially when trying to portray killers with loved actors like Lynch and Efron. Finding the balance between trying not to be too sympathetic, while also showing the reasons why these murders took place is a fine line that could crumble for any director.

This is all my own opinion; it would be great to hear other people’s thoughts on this subject! Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts. 

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