photo by Variety News

Zac Efron in comparison to Ted Bunny.

Since the rise in popularity of serial killer documentaries and reenactments, many news stations and streaming services have created a plethora of content catered to their reliable “true crime” watchers. However, the accuracy of how “true” these shows and movies are is debatable. Aside from the obvious ethical issues based on profiting off of people being murdered and raped, true crime television has romanticized these horrible people to make money.
With the increase in popularity of social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, more people than ever have access to an overwhelming amount of information at their fingertips. A lot of viewers need to realize that the producers of these shows are showing whatever angle is most profitable.
However, with that being said, not all blame can be based on the creators of this genre of media. If viewers were to use media literacy skills to realize that not all press and media are based in fact, without a lens, then there might not be as much viewership and fanbase around this genre. Parasocial relationships between the viewer and reenacted characters are both tasteless and unhealthy.
Recently, a phenomenon I could only closely describe as something of a hive mind, has been prevalent in all forms of social media. People will go to the comment section of posts to form or validate their opinions, sometimes even waiting until after reading comments or watching reactions to think about their opinions.
I’ll be the first to admit that, especially at a younger age, I did this before realizing what I was doing. This does take self-awareness. It is much easier for the consumer to go along with what a person or company is telling you to think instead of going through your rational thought process.
With the surge of new television shows and movies in recent years, it is only fitting that social media trends follow along. I’ve seen countless TikTok and Instagram reels of people talking about how they wish they were one of Ted Bundy or Jeffrey Dahmer’s victims, because of their appearance or how attractive the actor who portrayed them on Netflix is.
This, combined with the edits made of them, is enough to make you set down your phone and look at an imaginary audience just to make sure someone else saw what you just did. No amount of being chronically online could ever convince me that someone who has murdered, raped, and violated innocent people is someone worth fawning over, like some middle school hallway crush.
In all honesty, it is just nauseating.
This brings me to the question: why does Hollywood pick the most attractive trending stars, such as Zac Efron or Ross Lynch, to play these horrible people? Yes, in some cases, they do have some physical similarities to the person they are playing. However, in Zac Efron’s case, the only physical traits he and Ted Bundy share are their hair colors and relative body size and height.
Let’s look at a less extreme example, such as the recent movie Priscilla, which details Priscilla and Elvis Presley’s relationship. One could argue that their casting of Jacob Elordi as Elvis instantly softens the weight of his domestic abuse.
Some content creators online have gone as far as posting videos of themselves with the caption, “I’d let the Jacob Elordi Elvis throw a chair at me,” in reference to certain scenes from the movie, all of which came from real interviews with Priscilla Presley.
While these comments are possibly meant to be lighthearted and funny, it’s downright distasteful. Although Elvis was not of the same caliber of person as Jeffrey Dahmer, it still follows the same theme of glorifying and romanticizing someone who should or has been behind bars.
Whether they are in jail or dead, the actions of serial killers are still affecting us in one way or another. If we are to continue to consume media daily, it is our job to think rationally and use basic brainpower to take a step back and think about the severity of the trends and content we engage with.