A few months ago, an intriguing teaser trailer arrived online to offer a preview of director Marc Meyers' MY FRIEND DAHMER, an adaptation of a 224 page graphic novel that artist John "Derf" Backderf wrote about his experience growing up with future serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.
MY FRIEND DAHMER is set to receive a theatrical release in various theatres around the country throughout November and into December. With the first screenings dates coming up in just a few weeks, a full trailer for the film has been released online… and it looks pretty great. Very dark, intense, and interesting, with what looks to be a fantastic performance from Ross Lynch as Dahmer.
Jeffrey Dahmer murdered 17 men and boys in the Midwest United States between 1978 and 1991 before being captured and incarcerated. He would become one of America’s most infamous serial killers. This is the story before that story.
Jeff Dahmer is an awkward teenager struggling to make it through high school with a family life in ruins. He collects roadkill, fixates on a neighborhood jogger, and copes with his unstable mother and well-intentioned father. He begins to act out at school, and his goofball antics win over a group of band-nerds who form The Dahmer Fan Club, headed by Derf Backderf. But this camaraderie can’t mask his growing depravity. Approaching graduation, Jeff spirals further out of control, inching ever closer to madness.
Lynch's co-stars include Alex Wolff as Derf Backderf, Vincent Kartheiser as the jogger, and Anne Heche and Dallas Roberts as Dahmer's parents.
MY FRIEND DAHMER was filmed in the Akron, Ohio area, with Dahmer's actual childhood home among the locations. An Akron theatre is on the list of cities and playdates that distribution company Film Rise has posted on their website, and I'm sure watching the movie on Dahmer's home turf will be a unique experience.
The list of booked screenings, as of right now:
New York, NY – November 3
City Cinemas Village EastLos Angeles, CA – November 3
Laemmle Monica Film Center
Laemmle Noho 7
Laemmle Playhouse 7Brooklyn, NY – November 10
Alamo Drafthouse BrooklynYonkers, NY – November 10
Alamo Drafthouse YonkersWinchester, VA – November 10
Alamo Drafthouse WinchesterColumbus, OH – November 10
ESP Gateway Film CenterAthens, OH – November 10
Athena Cinema DowntownKansas City, MO – November 10
Screenland Armour TheatreTempe, AZ – November 10
Harkins Valley Art TheaterChattanooga, TN – November 10
Palace Picture HouseIrvine, CA – November 10
Regal Westpark 8Long Beach, CA – November 10
Regal UA Marketplace 6Portland, OR – November 10
Regal Fox Tower Stadium 10Charlotte, NC – November 10
Regal Park Terrace Stadium 6Austin, TX – November 10
Regal Arbor Cinemas at Great HillsKnoxville, TN – November 10
Regal Downtown West Cinema 8Grand Rapids, MI – November 10
Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA)San Francisco, CA – November 17
Roxie TheaterAkron, OH – November 17
Nightlight CinemaAlbuquerque, NM – November 17
Regal High Ridge Theatre 8Denver, CO – November 24
Alamo Drafthouse Sloans LakeKaty, TX – December 1
Alamo DrafthouseMason ParkLubbock, TX – December 1
Alamo Drafthouse LubbockEl Paso, TX – December 1
Alamo Drafthouse Montecillo
Check out the full trailer below and see if MY FRIEND DAHMER looks like a film you'd like to watch: