“Monster”: the Possible Serial Killers that Will Follow Jeffrey Dahmer

When "Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" premiered at the end of September, neither the creators, Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, nor Netflix, imagined the magnitude of the success it would have. And it is that what began as a simple 10-episode miniseries will now become an anthology series, which was renewed for another two seasons. In other words, streaming opens the doors to serial killers even more.

But those who know Murphy's filmography know that the good reception of his projects is due to his talent and creativity. For a decade he has given us stories as raw as they are dark, and there are no better examples than what was seen in "American Crime Story", "American Horror Story", and more recently "The Watcher". Although it is difficult to explain, the morbidity generated by monstrous figures in society translates into millions of views.

The truth of the case, with "Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" has started a particular era that could be extended to other streaming platforms, all because of Netflix. These kinds of stories featuring the atrocities committed by serial killers, no matter how far-fetched they may seem, are attractive to viewers. Although, it should be clarified, great responsibility for this is due to the magnificent performances of its protagonists.

In terms of numbers, the first season of "Monster" was as unexpected as it was successful. According to figures announced by Netflix, in its opening week it accumulated 196.2 million hours viewed, which later increased to 299.84 million hours viewed the following week, thus remaining in the top spot on the platform. In the end, after its first month, it surpassed 800 million hours watched, thus becoming the second most watched Netflix original series in its history.

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The Next Possible Killers in "Monster"

Whether in series, documentaries or movies, the entertainment industry has not stopped giving prominence to these monstrous figures. It is no longer surprising that at this point they continue to release productions of this style, since the opposite happens, they attract a good amount of audience. The stories of individuals like Ted Bundy, Andrew Cunanan, Charles Manson or Ed Kemper are already known worldwide for this television phenomenon, but they are only the tip of the iceberg.

Until now, very few details are known about the next two seasons of "Monster." However, Ryan Murphy himself assured that he will stream those murderers who greatly impacted society. The list of candidates is as long as it is appalling. What stories will Netflix bring to its catalog? Here some names.

John Wayne Gacy

He has all the numbers to star in the second season. The reason is obvious, since in the last episode of "Monster" he appeared in the first few minutes, showing us his modus operandi. Therefore, it could be said that Ryan Murphy gave us a preview of what is to come soon.

Among Gacy's nicknames are "Pogo the Clown" and "The Killer Clown," as he used to work as a clown at children's and charity parties. Between 1972 and 1978, he raped, tortured, and murdered more than 30 young people and children, whose bodies he buried in the garden and basement of his house. He was sentenced to death by lethal injection in 1994.

David Berkowitz

A signature touch in Ryan Murphy's productions is the supernatural. The "Son of Sam" case is famous in American culture for that very reason. Berkowitz himself confessed that he committed the murders because he had been ordered to do so by a demon that had possessed his neighbor's dog. To this we must add that, according to him, several of his victims were murdered by a satanic sect to which he belonged.

Berkowitz was the protagonist of one of the biggest police chases in New York between 1976 and 1977. He not only started many fires in the city during that time, but also killed six people in various shootings. After his arrest, he was sentenced in 1978 to six life sentences, which he is serving in a maximum security facility. In the Netflix series "Mindhunter" he is fictionally interviewed in its second season.

Samuel Little

Just ten years ago, Kentucky police managed to arrest Little at a homeless shelter, then transfer him to California, where he was convicted of the murder of three women. However, that was only the beginning, since after FBI investigations they managed to link him to more homicides, a total of 60 of the 93 he confessed to while behind bars.

His modus operandi was simple. He gained the trust of his victims, young, poor women with addiction problems, and then raped and strangled them. Throughout more than three decades, Little did his thing in 14 states of the North American country. He was sentenced to life in prison and died in prison of natural causes in 2020.

Dennis Rader

Nicknamed "BTK" (stands for Bind, Torture, and Kill), Dennis was a serial killer who killed 10 people between 1974 and 1991. His first victims were a family of four, two of them children, whom he killed. He managed to go unnoticed after hiding under the guise of the respected leader of a religious congregation.

However, his desire for fame led him to write taunting letters to the police and on television, something that further fueled the investigation and his subsequent arrest in 2005. Once behind bars, he confessed to all his murders and the sexual fantasies he had. They pushed him to it. Although he avoided the death penalty, he is currently serving a life sentence in Kansas.