When does real tragedy become content?
From body to psychological horror and with Kane Parsons making his directorial debut with “The Backrooms,” a film based on one of the internet’s most famous horror phenomena. The rise of the horror genre has become increasingly evident.
Even as a devoted horror movie enthusiast, I believe certain boundaries should not be overlooked. While fictional horror can be entertaining, true crime is a different realm because it can leave audiences feeling deeply disturbed.
The use of real-life events in movies and television is not inherently something new. Some of the most famous films, such as “Titanic” and “The Pursuit of Happyness,” all stem from real-life situations. Yet, is there a boundary that should never be crossed in the name of entertainment?
It takes a certain type of individual to be able to digest true crime. For me, it can be unsettling. I can only handle a bite-sized amount from time to time, even then, it can feel overwhelming.
I don’t know what possessed me to watch “Monster,” one of Netflix’s most renowned programs. The show goes in depth on some of the world’s most infamous serial killers and criminals. These include Jeffrey Dahmer, the Menendez brothers, Ed Gein and now, under production, Lizzie Borden for season four.
Despite my reservations before even starting the series, the few scattered episodes I watched can be described as well-orchestrated.
One of the most recognized aspects of the show is the performances from the actors. This includes a cast of stars like Evan Peters, who portrayed Jeffrey Dahmer in season one, Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez, who portrayed the Menendez Brothers in season two and Charlie Hunnam, who played Ed Gein in season three.
As I watched the series, I became painfully aware of why I struggle to watch this type of material. This genre reinforces the same unsettling reality: The stories they tell are real.
When watching horror films, however, I find myself not feeling that sense of unease. The simple word “fiction” gives me the shield I need to endure Pennywise terrorizing children in Derry, Maine, or even watching how Clarice Starling navigates her investigation alongside Hannibal Lecter. When that word is revoked, the experience becomes almost personal.
Events that affected real families and changed a community forever. Events that evoke a sense of fear are now being used for entertainment. And personally, I have a distaste towards the normalization of it all.
Imagine turning on the television after a long day of work, hoping to unwind from real-life problems, only to find a Ryan Murphy-produced series about the person who took the life of your family member at the No.1 spot. The Isbell family was forced to relive that very moment in 2022.
((Photo by Alya Alemdar). )
Rita Isbell’s brother, Errol Lindsey, one of Dahmer’s victims, becomes a central figure in the series. Isbell said that not only did Netflix fail to reach out to her family about her portrayal in the show, but they weren’t compensated for their involvement. You’d assume that if your story was being shown to millions you would get a heads up, right?
Perry Isbell, Lindsey’s cousin, shared his opinion on the situation. He supported his cousin Rita, saying their family understands the public interest in true crime, but series like this are “retraumatizing” for them.
“How many movies/shows/documentaries do we need?” Isbell questioned in an interview for The Point Press, describing the whole situation as “cruel.”
Cruel is standing in front of your brother’s killer in court, looking him in the eye, staring at the man who took away your brother’s chance to live past 20 years old.
That’s cruel. Compared to your brother’s killer getting renewed attention and award nominations. While the same television executives missed the mark on reaching out to the victim’s family does not feel cruel. It feels inhuman.
Certain lines should not be crossed for the sake of entertainment, no matter how interesting the concept may be. The consequence of crossing those lines can have a lasting impact on real people. It is time to start viewing true crime subjects as human beings, not as material for entertainment. Some stories deserve closure, not season two.
