Currently the fourth-most popular show on Netflix, the sickening and disturbing mind of a serial killer: Ryan Murphy’s ‘DAHMER – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story’, has sparked controversy and introduced the current generation to the past horrors Dahmer committed.

Actor Evan Peters plays the notorious serial killer, Jeffery Dahmer, in the series. Dahmer was a serial killer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1978 -1991. The show depicts his murders throughout his life and has received positive reviews from fans and critics. Rotten Tomatoes boasts an audience review of 84% fresh. 

Despite the positive rating, the show has been receiving intense backlash by some watchers  and the families of Dahmers’ victims, with claims of feeling retraumatized by the series. “I feel like Netflix should’ve asked if we mind or how we felt about making it. They didn’t ask me anything. They just did it,” said Rita Isbell, whose brother was killed by Dahmer, in an interview with Insider. 

The show explains the history and victims of Dahmer’s murderous acts, by reliving Dahmer’s murders in realistic and dramatic fashion. Former Milwauukee District Attorney Michael McCann said the idea of officers “turning a blind eye to Dahmer’s victims because they were gay or Black is simply not true,” according to NYDailyNews.com. The show has also been blamed for ‘Characterizing investigators in the case,’ though officer McCann has yet to watch the show. 

In a statement by Netflix, Director Ryan Murphy responded to criticism by saying, “ It exposes these unconscionable crimes, centered around the underserved victims and their communities impacted by the systemic racism and institutional failures of the police that allowed one of America’s most notorious serial killers to continue his murderous spree in plain sight for over a decade.”

As of today, despite all the criticism from victims and watchers, the series has continued to grow with fans and looks to stay on Netflix for the foreseeable future.