Dahmer Blu-ray Review

Presented by the MVD Marquee Collection, "Dahmer" arrives on Blu-ray with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The release features a new 4K transfer purportedly sourced from the original camera negative under the supervision of director David Jacobson. Despite these claims, the transfer's overall quality appears inconsistent. Notably, recurrent film damage appears throughout, with visible blemishes and prevalent wobbling in opening and closing credits. Certain sequences exhibit significant variations in quality within the same scene. This creates an uneven viewing experience, as some portions are inexplicably noisy and ragged, while others retain detail and integrity.

The color palette varies significantly, with moments of decently suffused warmth contrasted by faded and yellow-hued scenes. Yellow lighting in the film further exacerbates these variations in color. Bright scenes often appear blotchy and pixellated, yet some dark scenes exhibit finely resolved grain and superior detail levels. Shadow delineation suffers from occasional crushing, detracting from the overall depth and dimension. The static shots curated by cinematographer Chris Manley feature robust compositions despite the variable color saturation.

MVD's strong AVC encode helps maintain the movie’s thick grain texture, delivering a more immersive visual experience compared to the First Look DVD transfer. While not without its flaws, this Blu-ray presentation of "Dahmer" marks a considerable upgrade and transparent rendering of the original material, despite its inherent limitations. The effort to preserve textual details within an unfiltered transfer results in a presentable, though not exceptional, high-definition quality suitable for aficionados seeking a better version of the film.

"Dahmer" presents viewers with a proficient audio experience across its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. This mix performs admirably in scenes such as a robust gay bar setting, where the thumping music broadens the soundstage effectively. Occasional source cues used as underscores contribute to the overall aural environment. Despite the sporadic surround activity being mostly reserved for ambient environmental effects, it adequately supports the narrative without overwhelming the senses. Dialogue is consistently clear, ensuring that viewers can follow the story without strain. For added accessibility, optional English and Spanish subtitles are available.

The Blu-ray also offers both Monaural 2.0 PCM and 5.1 DTS-HD MA options. The PCM audio track delivers an immediate and clean presence, whereas the 5.1 mix provides a slightly more expansive auditory experience. Though "Dahmer" is a low-budget film and lacks the intense realism found in higher-budget productions, the dialogue remains intelligible, and the musical fidelity is serviceable. The sound design is laid out mainly across the front soundstage, with modest depth and separation. Some select scenes deliver heightened surround activity, offering brief moments of enhanced immersion. Subtitles in English SDH and Spanish are presented in a readable yellow font for added clarity.

Overall, while "Dahmer" may not offer a breathtaking audio landscape, it effectively utilizes its available resources to support the film's modestly intense narrative.

The Blu-ray edition of "Dahmer" comes enriched with numerous extras that offer a deep dive into the film’s production and thematic exploration. The disc, part of MVD's Marquee Collection, significantly improves upon the original DVD’s substandard video and audio quality, delivering a superior A/V experience. The included audio commentary by director David Jacobson and actors Jeremy Renner and Artel Kayaru is a valuable retrospective recorded during the film's initial home video release, providing insights into their creative choices and character interpretations. "The Mind Is A Place Of Its Own" featurette stands out, presenting comprehensive interviews with key crew and cast members about the film's genesis and production challenges. Both the Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery and Storyboards Gallery offer visual documentation, with the latter requiring frequent use of the Pause button due to dense handwritten notes. Additionally, multiple trailers enhance this well-rounded selection of bonus content.

Extras included in this disc:

• Director and Cast Commentary: Insightful reflections from David Jacobson, Jeremy Renner, and Artel Kayaru.
• "The Mind Is A Place Of Its Own" featurette: Making-of documentary featuring key crew and cast.
• Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery: A collection of 29 images from the production.
• Storyboards Gallery: Seven storyboard pages with detailed handwritten notes.
• Dahmer Theatrical Trailer: Original high-definition trailer.
• Dahmer Red Band Trailer: An SD trailer with more explicit content.
• MVD Trailers: Additional previews for other releases in the MVD collection.

David Jacobson’s Dahmer dramatizes the life of Jeffrey Dahmer, delivering a detailed yet unsettling narrative that attempts to humanize one of America's most notorious serial killers. Unlike My Friend Dahmer, which focuses on Dahmer's high school years, Dahmer juxtaposes moments from his later and earlier life, providing a fragmented portrayal of the man behind the monstrosities. The film oscillates between depicting Dahmer's emotional traumas and his interactions with his demanding father. However, it approaches Dahmer's internal struggles, particularly around his homosexuality, creating a chilling yet sometimes exploitative picture.

Jeremy Renner's portrayal of Jeffrey Dahmer stands out as the film's primary strength. Renner brings an eerie precision to the role, offering a compelling and haunting performance that adds depth to his character. Despite this, Jacobson’s narrative misses the chance for a more profound analysis of Dahmer's psychology and motivations. The film refrains from explicit gore, focusing instead on Dahmer’s mundane yet sinister methods of luring his victims. While some scenes depicting Dahmer coaxing young men back to his apartment effectively evoke dread, the overall narrative often feels meandering and lacks cohesion.

Additionally, the film sheds light on the societal failings that allowed Dahmer’s crimes to continue unchecked. Dahmer does not shy away from pointing out the negligence of law enforcement and societal indifference toward marginalized victims. Although the film gives a nod to these systemic issues, it fails to delve deeply enough into the underlying causes. The movie maintains a raw, unpolished aesthetic reflective of its low-budget constraints, which occasionally work in its favor but often result in uneven storytelling. Despite its flaws, viewers might find Renner's riveting performance reason enough to watch this unsettling exploration of evil.

The Blu Ray of "Dahmer" showcases a remarkable performance by a young Jeremy Renner, who skillfully embodies the infamous serial killer, Jeffrey Dahmer. Renner's portrayal is both chilling and compelling, delivering a depth that brings an unsettling authenticity to the character. The film dives into Dahmer's gruesome life with a dark, psychological edge that—while sometimes unconvincing in its attempts to rationalize his actions—nonetheless keeps viewers engaged.

Technically, the Blu Ray offers a mixed experience. Video quality is inconsistent, occasionally presenting problems that detract from the overall viewing. However, the audio quality remains solid throughout, ensuring that dialogues and sound effects retain their intended impact. Additionally, the release includes several noteworthy supplemental features that enhance the understanding and appreciation of both the film and Renner’s performance.

According to this NPR article, Kathryn Bigelow cast Renner in The Hurt Locker after having seen his performance in Dahmer, and there's probably little question that it's Renner's star turn here that gives the film a lot of its edginess. There are some probably unavoidably creepy scenes in this film, but I found the attempts at offering psychological reasons for things not very convincing. Interestingly, this film begins with a text card which could almost be substituted with a text card from the end of My Friend Dahmer, which may suggest for some intrepid true crime aficionados, the two films might make for an interesting double feature. Video is problematic at times, but audio is fine, and there are a couple of appealing supplements, for those who are considering a purchase.