Whenever a television program dramatizes a gruesome real-life crime narrative, it encounters a conundrum. Can it recount a misfortune without taking advantage of the victims and their families? Furthermore, can it depict these fatalities without sensationalizing or glorifying the perpetrator involved?
These inquiries have birthed a genre at odds with itself, conscious of its moral ambiguity and the reality that audiences are captivated by true crime tales. This October, two series have adopted divergent strategies regarding this dilemma: Netflix’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story and Peacock’s Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy.
Monster: The Ed Gein Story adheres to the template set by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan in their Monster anthology series, fusing provocative reenactments with insights into America’s obsession with true crime. Conversely, Devil in Disguise employs a more cautious strategy, steering clear of depicting murders and centering on a narrative focused on the victims.
The Ed Gein Story does not shy away from displaying violence onscreen, showcasing gory chainsaw killings and hammer tortures, among other horrors. It also presents a sequence featuring Gein committing necrophilia, despite real-life denials from Gein regarding such allegations. The outcome is a spectacle of graphic horrors intended for shock value.
Devil in Disguise refrains from depicting Gacy’s murders, preferring to have Gacy recount his deeds. This approach honors Gacy’s victims by not reenacting their deaths and entrusting the violence to the audience’s imagination, creating a haunting effect.
Instead of portraying Gacy’s killings, Devil in Disguise shines a light on his victims, striving to provide depth to their lives beyond their demise. Episodes are titled after these young men and include flashbacks leading to their meetings with Gacy. The series underscores the bias encountered by these victims, such as their sexual orientation or employment as sex workers, which rendered them a lesser priority for law enforcement.
The initial episode of Monster, Dahmer, tried a comparable tactic by illustrating police biases against Dahmer’s victims. However, it neglected to consult the families of the victims and recreated court scenes without informing them, resulting in significant backlash online.
Devil in Disguise and The Ed Gein Story possess contrasting perceptions of their audiences. Devil in Disguise centers on police bias, while The Ed Gein Story seeks to assert that the viewers are the true monsters. It explores how Gein’s actions inspired iconic films, intending to question the audience’s appetite for fictional violence.
The Ed Gein Story’s criticism of its viewers falls short, as it neglects to reflect on its role within the true crime landscape. It establishes links between Gein and other media but fails to introspect on its own sensationalism. On the other hand, Devil in Disguise appeals to the compassion of the audience, illuminating the stories of Gacy’s victims and their families. Each episode concludes with a connection to a website providing resources and information on issues impacting Gacy’s victims.
Devil in Disguise is not a flawless true crime series and at times dramatizes Gacy’s narrative. Nevertheless, it proposes a fresh direction for the genre: restraint. Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy is currently available for streaming on Peacock.