This article explores the enduring fascination with crime and serial killers, highlighting both fictional characters like Dexter Morgan and real-life figures such as Jeffrey Dahmer and Charles Manson. It details various adaptations in film and television, from Hannibal Lecter’s cinematic presence to the unsolved mystery of the Zodiac Killer. Additionally, it discusses female offenders like Aileen Wuornos and delves into iconic characters like Patrick Bateman and Jigsaw, reflecting on their cultural impact within the true crime genre.
The fascination with crime and humanity’s darker instincts has been a constant throughout history. The intense psychological depths explored in films and series about serial killers captivate true crime enthusiasts. Beyond compelling documentaries, a vast array of shows and movies recount chilling tales of real-life horrors.
This article features some of the most infamous serial killers, including both fictional figures like Dexter Morgan and notorious criminals like Jeffrey Dahmer and Charles Manson, whose stories continue to send shockwaves through society.
Hannibal Lecter
The narrative of Hannibal Lecter spans four novels, five films, and a successful series, depicting a highly intelligent cannibal who either aids the FBI or evades capture with cunning. While the film franchise peaked with ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ and dipped with ‘Hannibal Rising’, the series garnered persistent acclaim even though viewership didn’t warrant a fourth season.
The character’s inspiration came from Dr. Alfredo Balli Trevino, whom actor Richard Harris met while researching a murder case. During this encounter, Harris learned Trevino’s true identity as a murderer, which added depth to Hannibal’s character. Although Trevino wasn’t a cannibal, his calm demeanor and intelligence played a crucial role in Lecter’s creation.
Jeffrey Dahmer
Jeffrey Dahmer, one of the 20th century’s most notorious serial killers, has been the subject of two films, a successful miniseries, and several true crime documentaries. Convicted in 1991 for 16 out of 17 murders of young men and teenagers committed between 1978 and 1991, Dahmer was infamously known for drugging, sexually assaulting, and strangling his victims, followed by heinous acts involving their corpses.
In 2010, his story inspired the horror comedy ‘Dahmer vs. Gacy’, while a more serious approach was taken with the 2017 short film ‘My Friend Dahmer’, based on the graphic novel by John Backderf, detailing their high school friendship. In 2023, Netflix’s ‘Monster: The Story of Jeffrey Dahmer’ depicted the narrative from the victims’ perspectives, achieving significant success.
Norman Bates
The portrayal of Norman Bates across films and the series ‘Bates Motel’ diverges considerably from Robert Bloch’s original Psycho novels. The series delves deeper into Norman’s turbulent childhood, a contrast to the brief mentions in the books. Notably, Bates is pivotal in all four ‘Psycho’ films, despite not surviving the second installment of the novel.
Living an isolated existence with his mother, Norma, the dynamic shifts when she enters a romantic relationship, which leads to murder fueled by Norman’s jealousy. Following a series of tragic events, Norman is left alone in the motel, where he retains his mother’s corpse and develops a dissociative identity disorder, causing him to take on her persona.
Charles Manson
Charles Manson stands out as one of the most infamous figures in American crime, leading the Manson Family commune. Although he did not directly commit the murders, he orchestrated a series of heinous acts inspired by his delusions of an impending race war, which he termed ‘Helter Skelter’.
In 1969, when his predicted uprising failed to occur, Manson directed his followers to commit murders, including that of actress Sharon Tate. Manson was imprisoned for his actions and passed away in 2017 at age 83. His case garnered extensive media coverage and has inspired numerous fictional portrayals, such as in Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ and the series ‘Mindhunter’.
Jame Gumb (Buffalo Bill)
Jame Gumb, also known as Buffalo Bill, experienced a tumultuous childhood marked by abandonment and later, tragedy. Adopted by his grandparents, he eventually murdered them. His stay in a psychiatric facility allowed him to learn sewing, which played a key role in the chilling crimes he would later commit.
Author Thomas Harris drew inspiration from several real-life killers for Gumb’s character, particularly the act of keeping victim souvenirs, reflective of the notorious Edward Gein. Gumb’s method of luring victims captures the cunning behavior seen in individuals like Ted Bundy. His actions are also rooted in a desire to understand the sensation of taking a life, reminiscent of Edmund Kemper.
Aileen Wuornos
Aileen Wuornos, one of the few women