Last week, an exhibition opened in London that is sure to spark controversy, not just due to its provocative subject matter and graphic content, but also because of what it implies about society. Titled 'Serial Killer,' this extensive exhibition will either be viewed as a thought-provoking exploration into the motives and actions of some of humanity's most brutal killers, or as a macabre celebration of the crimes committed by damaged and deranged individuals who brought terror and horror to families and communities.
All the notorious names are present: Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, Aileen Wuornos, Jeffrey Dahmer, Dennis Nilsen, and perhaps most disturbingly, English nurse Lucy Letby, who was convicted of murdering seven babies last year. It's hard to imagine how the families of her victims feel about her being showcased in this manner. Original artifacts, such as a lock of Bundy's hair, Dahmer's glasses, and letters from prison cells, are displayed in glass cases—important relics that must be preserved and protected. Reconstructions of murder scenes, complete with bloody mattresses, bodies wrapped in plastic bags, a fridge containing body parts, and pots used to boil human remains, are presented for public viewing.
While I occasionally enjoy true crime stories, I made a point to learn more about Ted Bundy's crimes. What I discovered was deeply disturbing. He was a monster who terrorized, imprisoned, brutalized, murdered, and desecrated the bodies of his young female victims. Yet, his good looks and articulate nature have turned him into a celebrity. I decided then to apply a simple rule to myself to avoid falling into the serial killer rabbit hole. The rule is straightforward: 'Will knowing a single detail about these killers' crimes or psychology enrich my life in any way?' If the answer is yes, I'll proceed. If no, then I stop.
'Serial Killer' is perhaps the epitome of the highly disturbing yet popular true crime genre that dominates streaming platforms—not so much Netflix and chill, but more Netflix and bone-chilling. It capitalizes on the public's interest in true crime, with algorithms working overtime to provide what people want. It appeals to humanity's most basic instincts and packages those primal urges and fascinations as entertainment.
Among the gore, the unsuspecting faces of victims, and the macabre reconstructions of murder and burial sites, there are bright and colorful interactive games designed to determine how much of a psychopath you are or to test your knowledge of serial killers and their crimes. One room features depictions of serial killers in films, such as Freddy Krueger's clawed glove from 'A Nightmare on Elm Street,' the body armor worn by Julianne Moore in 'Hannibal,' and Charlize Theron's Oscar-winning performance as Aileen Wuornos in 'Monster.' This is pure entertainment designed to attract visitors. While there's nothing inherently wrong with that, it's simply not for me.
Giancarlo Guerra, the Italian supervisor of the exhibition, told Euronews Culture that 'Serial Killer' took ten years to create, and it shows. Organizers estimate it will take more than an hour to view the over 1,000 artifacts. Guerra also explained that time was taken to handle the subject matter sensitively and that victims' families will benefit from the exhibition through a charity. The majority of cases featured are more than 40 years old, making them less likely to offend, except for the Lucy Letby case, which, after careful consideration by curators, will be removed from the exhibition.
'Serial Killer' describes itself as presenting the phenomenon of serial killers from historical, educational, and scientific perspectives. It does this by featuring investigative and forensic techniques from the 19th century to the sophisticated criminal profiling of today. But who's focusing on the investigative techniques when severed limbs and a bath stained with a victim's blood are to your left, and an arsenal of murder weapons is to your right?
'Serial Killer' is exactly what it claims to be: a graphic, no-holds-barred exploration of some of the most horrific serial killers of all time in forensic and theatrical detail. No surprise then that it didn't pass my test.
'Serial Killer: The Exhibition' runs until 5 January 2025 at The Vaults in London. Check out the video above for footage of the exhibition and our interview with the exhibition supervisor.
