Monster: The Ed Gein Story. Charlie Hunnam as Ed Gein in episode 303 of Monster: The Ed Gein Story. Cr. Courtesy Of Netflix © 2025
Netflix once again dives into America’s darkest corners with the latest installment of Ryan Murphy’s Monster anthology. This time, the spotlight falls on Ed Gein, the reclusive Wisconsin murderer whose grotesque crimes not only horrified a nation but also reshaped the landscape of horror cinema. His twisted legacy seeped into classics like Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, cementing him as one of the most infamous figures in criminal history.
With Monster: The Ed Gein Story, Murphy promises an unflinching psychological portrait of a man torn between small-town obscurity and unthinkable violence. The season begins with chilling intensity and striking visuals, yet quickly stumbles under the weight of its own ambition. What could have been a razor-sharp character study instead becomes an uneven blend of brilliant performances, suffocating atmosphere, and distracting detours.
Set in the bleak and isolated farmlands of 1950s Wisconsin, Monster: The Ed Gein Story excels at creating a suffocating, sinister atmosphere. The cinematography is one of the show’s strongest assets: vast, desolate rural landscapes are contrasted with claustrophobic interiors, reinforcing Ed’s isolation and psychological deterioration. The lighting and sound design echo this dread, making even quiet scenes feel unnervingly tense.
Charlie Hunnam’s performance is undoubtedly the backbone of the series. He embodies Ed Gein with eerie precision, portraying a man caught between childlike vulnerability and unspeakable darkness. His soft-spoken voice, confused gaze, and sudden bursts of mania are disturbing not because they are exaggerated, but because they feel alarmingly human. Hunnam doesn’t just act Gein — he disappears into him. In doing so, he not only anchors the series but also proves himself a formidable actor capable of carrying even the darkest material with nuance and weight.
Equally strong is Laurie Metcalf as Augusta Gein, Ed’s puritanical and fanatically religious mother. Her character is less a woman than a psychological specter, looming over Ed’s thoughts long after her death. Metcalf channels this with chilling restraint, crafting one of the most quietly terrifying mother figures in recent television. Meanwhile, Adeline Watkins, played by Suzanna Son and presented as Gein’s rumored girlfriend, adds an intriguing dimension to his otherwise solitary life.
Where Monster: The Ed Gein Story begins to unravel is in its attempt to blend true crime with horror film history. Rather than focusing solely on Gein’s life, crimes, and psychological evolution, the series diverts into a kind of pseudo-academic examination of his cinematic legacy. We’re introduced to Alfred Hitchcock (Tom Hollander), Ilse Koch (Vicky Krieps), Tobe Hooper (Will Brill), and serial killer archetypes that supposedly drew inspiration from Gein. While these references might intrigue film buffs, they are poorly integrated and often feel like narrative padding.
For instance, the appearance of Hitchcock — initially compelling — loses significance after just a few scenes. A potentially rich storyline, in which Hitchcock seeks to understand Gein in order to craft Psycho, is quickly abandoned in favor of surface-level exposition. Similarly, the inclusion of characters like Richard Speck and sequences resembling Mindhunter episodes only serve to muddy the waters.
Worse still, some of these pop culture tie-ins are factually inaccurate. The show suggests FBI profiler John Douglas visited Gein, which is impossible — Douglas began his profiling work in the late 1970s, years after Gein’s death in 1984. These liberties with the truth don’t enhance the drama; they cheapen it.
At eight episodes, the series feels needlessly stretched. The first half is undeniably strong, carrying the same gut punch that Murphy delivered in Dahmer, offering insight into Gein’s upbringing, social isolation, and psychological torment. However, as the episodes progress, the plot is increasingly diluted by side characters, speculative flashbacks, hallucinations, and meandering subplots.
Final Verdict of Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Monster: The Ed Gein Story is not a failure. It’s a competently made, well-acted, and visually striking series that succeeds in certain aspects — particularly its tone, performances, and initial storytelling. However, the decision to turn Ed Gein’s story into a meta-commentary on horror cinema, without fully committing to either true crime or pop culture analysis, leaves the show feeling uneven.
For viewers expecting a cohesive narrative in the vein of Dahmer, this third season may prove disappointing. Its structural flaws, creative liberties, and overreliance on cultural name-dropping dilute what could have been a rich portrait of one of history’s most disturbing criminals.
Despite its promising start and standout performances, Monster: The Ed Gein Story ultimately falls victim to its own ambition. Charlie Hunnam is magnetic, and the atmosphere is haunting; however, the series often trades substance for style.
Watch Monster: The Ed Gein Story If You Liked
- The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
- The Kyle and Eric Menendez Story
- Psycho
- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
- The Silence of the Lambs
Now it’s over to you – what did you think about Monster: The Ed Gein Story? Let us know down below.
