“Monster: The ed Gein Story” (2025) – A Review
Netflix’s “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” directly confronts the horrific crimes of Ed Gein, portraying his documented actions wiht explicit detail.The series confirms Gein’s guilt in the murder of his brother, Henry, and expands on previously circulated rumors, asserting his involvement in the disappearances of a local babysitter and several hunters. The show details Gein’s grave robbing activities at the Plainfield cemetery, resulting in a home filled with human remains, including a suit constructed from human skin.
Gein confessed to the murders of Mary Hogan and Bernice Worden, with the series suggesting a motive rooted in their resemblance to his mother. The show depicts Bernice Worden’s body discovered in Gein’s barn, prepared like a hunted animal, and Mary Hogan’s head found within his residence. Lesley Manville portrays Bernice Worden, and the series notably imagines a sexual encounter between her and Gein, a detail not definitively established in factual accounts.
While the series recreates Gein’s crimes, the review notes a lack of depth in its exploration. The most intriguing elements arise when the show attempts to address Gein’s cultural impact, featuring Tom Hollander as Alfred Hitchcock and Joey Pollari as Anthony Perkins in scenes referencing the production of “Psycho.” However, the review criticizes the series for failing to meaningfully analyze the connection between Gein and subsequent depictions of serial killers in media – from Leatherface to Buffalo Bill, and figures like Jerry Brudos & richard Speck. It argues that the show merely “connects dots with crayons,” failing to delve into the shared themes of upbringing, violence, and mental instability that link these figures.
The series pushes boundaries, even contradicting Gein’s own claims of abstaining from sexual acts with his victims or their remains, presenting a graphic depiction in the fifth episode. This is exemplified by a reimagining of the iconic shower scene from “Psycho,” starring Son and Hunnam, which the review states includes explicit violence and nudity exceeding Hitchcock’s original vision. The review questions the purpose of this recreation, asking if it serves as commentary or simply as provocation, suggesting the question was never adequately addressed.
Ultimately, the review concludes that the series prioritizes shock value over thematic exploration, culminating in scenes like Gein singing while wearing women’s clothing in a mental facility, intended for social media sharing. The review posits that a more compelling version of “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” could have used Gein’s story as a lens thru which to examine contemporary obsessions with true crime, violence, and mental illness, mirroring how Hitchcock, Tobe Hooper, and Jonathan Demme utilized Gein’s legacy in their own work. However, the series is ultimately deemed a superficial imitation lacking genuine insight.
The series is currently available on Netflix.
