Why the Romanticising of Serial Killers in the Media is Damaging

 by Grace Gamblin

HYBRISTOPHILIA: The phenomenon of an individual being sexually aroused by a criminal offender 

Due to advanced technologies and increasing access to social media platforms, true crime has recently become increasingly popular, with 73% of viewers being female. According to Psychologist Warren Collier, human beings are naturally drawn to these serial killers due to morbid inquisitiveness. Severe characters intrigue people due to the idea that they cannot comprehend killers, cannot fathom what would make a person behave in the way most serial killers typically do, this creates a desire and need to understand them, and learn what makes them tick. The casting of conventionally attractive men such as with Evan Peters or Ross Lynch as the well known serial killer Jeffery Dahmer, who between the years 1978 to 1991, murdered around 17 men, having dismembered their bodies and had intercourse with them, and also the casting of Zac Effron as 1970s killer Ted Bundy, makes the actions of the characters accepting in the media and gives a sense of allure and attraction, it creates this misconception that the beloved actors (many who apppeared in kids show creating the idea of comfort and familiarity) are similar to the killers onscreen, the actor and the character become inextricably linked in some peoples minds. This casting perpetuates the idea that serial killers deserve to be glorified on-screen, and puts more of an emphasis on their sexual appeal rather than the threat that they pose. 

In addition to this, social media has only exacerbated the impacts of true crime, with individuals creating edits between serial killers and their victims in a positive light, allowing people to form unhealthy attachments to dangerous individuals. A TikTok recently went viral where a creator wore earrings with Jeffery Dahmer's face, this commercialisation trivialises the crimes that Dahmer committed by turning them into an accessory for everyday wear. Although this obsession is not completely new, criminals behind bars have historically attracted admirers and received fan mail, and in some extreme cases such as with Richard Ramirez have married fans, despite having life long sentences. 

An example of this can be seen especially in the Netflix show ‘You’, with the plot following the increasingly sociopathic character Joe and his romantic encounters. Though the show should be credited highly with its strong writing and remarkable acting, it creates a dangerous perspective of the main character. The audience being planted right inside Joe’s head means we are able to hear every thought, his justification for every questionable move he makes. Given the unusual set up, it is unsurprising the audience watching at home falls for Joe’s manipulative charm, the same way his love interests do. Across the internet, there are fans of the character, who declare his actions as romantic and are madly in love with this homicidal anti-hero.   

This romanticism is a problem due to these idealisations enabling behaviour that minimises victims, merely making them a background character in a tragic tale, rather than real people with actual experiences. The narrative being spread by people who sympathise with these killers has the potential to cause harm to certain victims, making it harder for their side to be believed by the general public. It also has the potential to influence younger generations, causing them to believe that the behaviour exhibited on screen is normal or socially acceptable, which could cause danger with future relationships and later life. However the industry will undoubtedly continue to churn out films or series with Hollywood heartthrob as the faces of serial killers, yet it is a necessity that audiences become more aware that this should in no way justify behaviour or deify the murderers that these shows are based on.