Netflix is unwrapping Monster: The Ed Gein Story, the latest harrowing entry in its true-crime anthology series. The eight-part drama revisits one of America’s most infamous killers, Ed Gein, whose grisly tale inspired some of horror cinema’s most enduring villains, including Psycho, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and The Silence of the Lambs.
The series sits as the third installment in Netflix’s Monster lineup, described by the streamer as its most disturbing chapter yet. It pulls back the curtain on Gein’s troubled upbringing in rural Wisconsin and delves into how an obsession with his mother helped shape a string of crimes in the 1940s and ’50s—ranging from murder and grave-robbing to creating macabre objects from his victims.
What to know about Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Plot and focus
– The eight-episode drama centers on Ed Gein, portrayed by Charlie Hunnam, and explores his brutal crimes as well as the backstory of a man living in isolation on a decaying farm in 1950s Wisconsin.
– The series will introduce viewers to some of Gein’s victims, including Bernice Worden, a hardware store owner played by Lesley Manville, whose murder and the ensuing investigation reveal Gein’s chilling collection of grotesque artifacts made from human remains.
Netflix synopsis in context: Gein’s life is framed as a haunting cautionary tale about the making of a monster—one whose infamy reshaped the cultural landscape of horror and spawned a wave of fictional counterparts.
Key cast
– Charlie Hunnam as Ed Gein
– Lesley Manville as Bernice Worden
– Suzanna Son
– Tom Hollander
– Laurie Metcalf
– Vicky Krieps
– Olivia Williams
– Joey Pollari
– Additional cast includes notable names such as Tyler Jacob Moore, Charlie Hall, Will Brill, Mimi Kennedy, and Robin Weigert
Production notes and connections
– Monster: The Ed Gein Story is part of Netflix’s ongoing Monster series, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan. It follows Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022) and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (2024), with another installment on Lizzie Borden reportedly in development.
– The series is marketed as Netflix’s most harrowing installment to date, aiming to deliver a tense, immersive portrayal of Gein and the cultural impact of his crimes on American horror.
Release information
– Netflix plans to release Monster: The Ed Gein Story on Friday, October 3. In the meantime, viewers can revisit Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story on the platform.
Summary and takeaways
– Monster: The Ed Gein Story promises a deep, character-driven look at Ed Gein’s life and crimes, balancing Gein’s backstory with his infamous acts and the real-life investigation that followed.
– The drama aims to offer a responsible, if intense, exploration of a figure who has loomed large in both true crime and horror fiction.
A hopeful note
– For audiences, the series may spark important conversations about the roots of extreme violence, the portrayal of mental health in crime narratives, and the ethical boundaries of dramatizing real tragedies for entertainment.
If you’re following Netflix’s true-crime roster, Monster: The Ed Gein Story stands to be a pivotal entry that combines strong performances with a chilling historical arc, continuing Netflix’s trend of high-profile, serialized examinations of infamous killers. Summary: A carefully framed, eight-episode deep dive into Ed Gein’s life and crimes, featuring a star-studded cast and a release set for early October, building on the franchise’s legacy of provocative, culture-shaping storytelling.
Overall sentiment: positive, with emphasis on a gripping, thoughtful approach to a notorious historical figure.