The television landscape this spooky season presents a unique perspective on infamous American serial killers. Two recent series, released in October, delve into the lives and atrocities surrounding these notorious figures. Both Netflix’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story and Peacock’s Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy tackle reallife horrors, diverging in their storytelling approaches.
Monsters and Devils: A Contrasting Narrative
While Monster zeroes in on Ed Gein, showcasing grisly details through a distorted lens, Devil in Disguise shifts its focus to the victims of John Wayne Gacy. With a narrative that emphasizes the lives lost rather than merely the killings, the series offers a more humanized portrayal.
Understanding the Victims
Devil in Disguise, created by Patrick Macmanus, masterfully highlights individual stories of Gacy’s victims. Each episode is named after a victim, such as “Samuel and Randy” and “Billy and Dale.” The show intricately weaves their daily lives and struggles into the storyline.
- Johnny Szyc was figuring out how to come out to his parents.
- John Butkovich worked at Gacy’s contracting company.
- Various victims included sex workers and young men facing hardships.
Portraying the Investigation
The series opens with the 1978 abduction of Robert Piest, sparking an investigation revealing Gacy’s heinous acts. It juxtaposes police negligence and media sensationalism surrounding Gacy’s crimes. This dynamic sheds light on how biases allowed Gacy to continue his predatory behavior.
Critique and Comparison
Devil in Disguise succeeds where others falter by avoiding excessive portrayals of violence. While some brutal moments do occur, the emphasis remains on the emotional journey of the victims and their families rather than the gruesome details of the crimes.
In contrast, Monster tends to amplify Gein’s impact on horror cinema while showcasing his distorted psyche. The show indulges in portraying Gein’s mindset rather than emphasizing the humanity of his victims. This focus can detract from the compelling narratives surrounding the lives lost.
Gacy’s Manipulation and Media Response
The series highlights how Gacy manipulated both his victims and the police. It portrays a police force that often ignores pleas for help based on socioeconomic and sexual orientation biases. This incompetence allowed Gacy to evade capture for far too long.
Furthermore, the media’s portrayal of Gacy’s victims as runaways or degenerates reveals societal biases, undermining the real pain of the families affected. This stark commentary invites viewers to reflect on complicity in viewing true crime through a sensationalist lens.
Conclusion: A ThoughtProvoking Examination of True Crime
Ultimately, Devil in Disguise challenges viewers to empathize with real victims rather than focusing solely on the monstrosity of murderers. By humanizing those lost to Gacy’s cruelty, the series carves out a poignant narrative that resonates—an effective reminder amid a genre often criticized for its voyeurism. It stands apart from typical truecrime depicts while successfully modeling compassion and understanding.