Monster: The Ed Gein Story

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Overview

The shocking true-life tale of Ed Gein, the infamous murderer and grave robber who inspired many of Hollywood's most iconic on-screen killers.

Media

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MONSTER: The Ed Gein Story | Official Trailer | Netflix

Cast

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Charlie Hunnam
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Laurie Metcalf
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Suzanna Son
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Vicky Krieps
Creator:
Ian Brennan
Fist Air Date:
2025-10-03
Episode Runtime:
undefinedm
Production Companies:
Ryan Murphy Television, Prospect Films
Genres:
Crime Drama
Keywords:
1940s based on true story cannibalism grave robber horrified horror mad mother son relationship murder psychological thriller serial killer wisconsin world war ii
More Show Details

Vote Average: 7.2/10

Vote Count: 495 Votes

Show Popularity: 27.7033

Show Status: Ended

Show Type: Miniseries

Spoken Languages: English, German

Review

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  1. Insomniacs Reviews
    7 Based on 1 Votes
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    ⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 7/10 THE SUMMARY The third installment of Ryan Murphy’s true-crime anthology takes us to 1950s rural Wisconsin to meet the "Butcher of Plainfield." Ed Gein (Charlie Hunnam) is a quiet, soft-spoken farmhand living in the shadow of his late, domineering mother, Augusta (Laurie Metcalf). After her death, Ed’s grief manifests in a series of horrific grave robberies and murders as he attempts to "recreate" her in a literal, macabre sense. The series also leans into meta-territory, showing how Gein’s crimes directly inspired Hollywood legends like Alfred Hitchcock (Tom Hollander) and Tobe Hooper to create the icons of modern horror. THE PROS This is a great series for those who want to see a powerhouse performance; Charlie Hunnam is amazing as Gein, utilizing a pained, high-pitched affectation that makes your skin crawl. It hits a 7 because the show’s exploration of the "Mother-Son" dynamic is a total highlight, with Laurie Metcalf delivering a sincere and terrifying performance as the religious, shaming Augusta. The production design is honest and eerie, capturing the cold, isolated vibe of the Gein farmhouse perfectly. It’s a smart move to include the Hollywood "meta" angle, as seeing how these real-life horrors birthed movies like *Psycho* and *Texas Chainsaw Massacre* is a fair shout for the most interesting part of the season. THE CONS It stays at a 7 because the season has faced heavy criticism for being a bit of a slog with its eight-hour runtime and graphic, "revolting" violence. It misses a higher mark because some of the meta-subplots—like the focus on Ilse Koch or the extended Hitchcock sequences—are an honest head-scratcher and can feel like they belong in a different show entirely. The pacing is a fair shout for erratic, moving from slow psychological study to excessive shock value in a way that feels a pained bit desperate for attention. While the acting is amazing, the factual inaccuracies and "perverse" tone have left a sour taste for many viewers who prefer their true crime with a bit more restraint and respect for the victims. THE VERDICT 7/10. A dark, divisive, and often stomach-turning descent into madness. It’s an amazing showcase for Hunnam and Metcalf, but the show’s indulgent nature makes it a pained watch that won't be for everyone. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA • Charlie Hunnam was so dedicated to staying honest to the role that he lost a significant amount of weight and worked with a vocal coach for months to master Gein’s specific, "affected" speaking style.• In a massive viral surprise, pop star Addison Rae has a brief, pained cameo in the series as a babysitter, a move that sparked endless memes and TikTok discussions upon the show's 2025 release.• The series was so controversial that even as it racked up award nominations for Hunnam and Metcalf in early 2026, it was simultaneously being panned by many critics as the "worst TV show of 2025" due to its graphic nature. THE VIBE Like walking into a basement you know you shouldn't be in. It smells of mothballs, sour milk, and the metallic tang of a rusty hacksaw.

TV Show Poster

Season 1

8 Episodes

Air Date: 2025-10-03

Serial killer. Grave robber. Psycho. In the frozen fields of 1950s rural Wisconsin, a friendly, mild-mannered recluse named Eddie Gein lived quietly on a decaying farm - hiding a house of horrors so gruesome it would redefine the American nightmare. Driven by isolation, psychosis, and an all-consuming obsession with his mother, Gein's perverse crimes birthed a new kind of monster that would haunt Hollywood for decades. From Psycho to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre to The Silence of the Lambs, Gein's macabre legacy gave birth to fictional monsters born in his image and ignited a cultural obsession with the criminally deviant. Ed Gein didn't just influence a genre -- he became the blueprint for modern horror.

Videos

MONSTER: The Ed Gein Story | Official Trailer | Netflix
MONSTER: The Ed Gein Story | Official Teaser | Netflix

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Reviews for

Monster: The Ed Gein Story

Comment (1)

  1. Insomniacs Reviews

    ⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 7/10

    THE SUMMARY
    The third installment of Ryan Murphy’s true-crime anthology takes us to 1950s rural Wisconsin to meet the “Butcher of Plainfield.” Ed Gein (Charlie Hunnam) is a quiet, soft-spoken farmhand living in the shadow of his late, domineering mother, Augusta (Laurie Metcalf). After her death, Ed’s grief manifests in a series of horrific grave robberies and murders as he attempts to “recreate” her in a literal, macabre sense. The series also leans into meta-territory, showing how Gein’s crimes directly inspired Hollywood legends like Alfred Hitchcock (Tom Hollander) and Tobe Hooper to create the icons of modern horror.

    THE PROS
    This is a great series for those who want to see a powerhouse performance; Charlie Hunnam is amazing as Gein, utilizing a pained, high-pitched affectation that makes your skin crawl. It hits a 7 because the show’s exploration of the “Mother-Son” dynamic is a total highlight, with Laurie Metcalf delivering a sincere and terrifying performance as the religious, shaming Augusta. The production design is honest and eerie, capturing the cold, isolated vibe of the Gein farmhouse perfectly. It’s a smart move to include the Hollywood “meta” angle, as seeing how these real-life horrors birthed movies like *Psycho* and *Texas Chainsaw Massacre* is a fair shout for the most interesting part of the season.

    THE CONS
    It stays at a 7 because the season has faced heavy criticism for being a bit of a slog with its eight-hour runtime and graphic, “revolting” violence. It misses a higher mark because some of the meta-subplots—like the focus on Ilse Koch or the extended Hitchcock sequences—are an honest head-scratcher and can feel like they belong in a different show entirely. The pacing is a fair shout for erratic, moving from slow psychological study to excessive shock value in a way that feels a pained bit desperate for attention. While the acting is amazing, the factual inaccuracies and “perverse” tone have left a sour taste for many viewers who prefer their true crime with a bit more restraint and respect for the victims.

    THE VERDICT
    7/10. A dark, divisive, and often stomach-turning descent into madness. It’s an amazing showcase for Hunnam and Metcalf, but the show’s indulgent nature makes it a pained watch that won’t be for everyone.

    INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
    • Charlie Hunnam was so dedicated to staying honest to the role that he lost a significant amount of weight and worked with a vocal coach for months to master Gein’s specific, “affected” speaking style.

    • In a massive viral surprise, pop star Addison Rae has a brief, pained cameo in the series as a babysitter, a move that sparked endless memes and TikTok discussions upon the show’s 2025 release.

    • The series was so controversial that even as it racked up award nominations for Hunnam and Metcalf in early 2026, it was simultaneously being panned by many critics as the “worst TV show of 2025” due to its graphic nature.

    THE VIBE
    Like walking into a basement you know you shouldn’t be in. It smells of mothballs, sour milk, and the metallic tang of a rusty hacksaw.

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