Netflix has never shied away from exploring the darkest corners of true crime, and its latest release might be the most chilling yet. “Monster: The Ed Gein Story,” which has now landed on the streaming service, marks the third installment in Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s true crime anthology following their takes on Jeffrey Dahmer and the Menendez brothers. This time, the spotlight turns to the man who inspired some of Hollywood’s most iconic boogeymen.
Charlie Hunnam (best known for his role in “Sons of Anarchy”) portrays Ed Gein, a seemingly mild-mannered Wisconsin farmer whose gruesome double life left a permanent scar on American culture. Dubbed the “Butcher of Plainfield,” Gein’s crimes went far beyond murder, involving grave-robbing and the creation of grotesque household items from human remains.
When authorities uncovered his farmhouse in the late 1950s, they found a scene so nightmarish it would echo through decades of horror cinema, inspiring movies like “Psycho,” “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre”, and “The Silence of the Lambs.”
Having already watched the first two episodes, I can confirm it’s every bit as dark and uncomfortable as the first trailer suggested. Arriving just in time for spooky season, this third chapter is equal parts psychological character study and horrifying true crime account. Here’s everything to know about “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” now that it’s streaming on Netflix.
What is ‘Monster: The Ed Gein Story’ about?
In 1950s rural Wisconsin, Ed Gein (Charlie Hunnam) is a mild-mannered recluse residing on a decaying farm, quietly concealing a grotesque secret. As the series unfolds, his isolation, mental anguish, and deep obsession with his domineering mother, Augusta (Laurie Metcalf), drive him into dark and twisted behaviors.
He begins exhuming bodies from local graves and collecting human remains to fashion disturbing objects and even “souvenirs.” When a hardware store owner disappears, investigators uncover a horrifying “house of horrors” filled with macabre artifacts.
Through this gruesome revelation, the show explores how Gein’s crimes shocked the public and reverberated through popular culture.
Should you stream ‘Monster: The Ed Gein Story’ on Netflix?
The opening five minutes of “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” immediately sets the tone and hints at what’s to come. While nothing gruesome happens, Hunnam’s portrayal of Gein is so unnervingly precise that even a simple scene of him milking a cow feels off, especially when he soaks his hand in the bucket afterward. It’s clearly meant to show his gentle side and almost lull you into a false sense of normalcy, but once the later horrors unfold, that initial unease sticks with you, making the entire experience deeply uncomfortable.
If you're a fan of true crime or horror, this series could be your next watch. But be warned: it's not for the faint of heart. The first episode reveals Gein’s first kill and how that moment pushed him further into a psychotic break from reality. It also explores his damaging relationship with his controlling mother, showing how her influence twisted his sense of morality and isolation.
The next episode ventures into darker territory as Gein’s unsettling obsessions include a fascination with Nazi memorabilia, which he collects and treats almost like talismans. He also begins his disturbing lifestyle of crafting household items from human remains, and these scenes are purposely made to unsettle you.
In these episodes we’re introduced to Adeline Watkins (Suzanna Son), a young woman who feels as trapped as Ed, serving as his only companion in the cold wastes of Plainfield. She shares his obsession with death and even introduces him to several killers who would serve as his idols.
The series also depicts Alfred Hitchcock (portrayed by Tom Hollander) as a filmmaker grappling with the influence of Gein’s crimes on his work, particularly the creation of “Psycho.” His scenes offer an interesting glimpse into just how far real-life horrors inspired cinematic storytelling.
While I am yet to watch the rest of the series, “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” has already established itself as a chilling and uncomfortable look into one of America’s most infamous killers. Charlie Hunnam is an incredibly talented actor and I was shocked at how well he transformed into this persona.
In fact, while filming the season, Murphy was struck by how Hunnam never balked at any of the challenging material in the scripts (Tudum): “I’ve never had this experience with any other actor I’ve worked with. When Ian and I were working on the scripts, there were many times where I was like, ‘I don’t think Charlie will do this. I think it’s too dark. I think it’s too scary. I don’t think I could do it.’ I was so impressed with [Hunnam] because once [he] signed on, he never called me about any scene. [He] did everything that we wrote.”
If you usually watch true crime, “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” is worth adding to your watchlist. It’s intense, dark, and not for the faint of heart, but for viewers who appreciate a mix of character study and chilling true crime, it delivers exactly what you’d expect from a Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan production.
Stream all 8 episodes of "Monster: The Ed Gein Story" on Netflix now.
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