With the release of Ryan Murphy’s latest installment “Monster” viewers are now able to witness the true horror of one of America’s most notorious killers, Edward Gein. With a fresh cast of well known actors and famous directors, the story of “The Plainfield Ghoul” comes alive once again around the world.
Story & Concept
Netflix’s “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” portrays Edward Gein’s story in a new light, unlike anything before. Not only focusing on his distorted perception of reality and chronic grotesque hallucinations, this series also shows the cultural impact he created through his horrific acts.
In a heavy narrative, yet cinematic approach, viewers are brought along for the ride through various points in time, following Ed Gein’s life even after his incarceration. Almost as if they are Ebenezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol” visiting the past, present, and future.
Exploring the Origins of True Horror
The series first kicks off in 1950s Plainfield, Wisconsin, where viewers first witness the disturbing real-life crimes of Ed Gein and the psychological abuse he endured by his mother, Augusta Wilhelmine Gein, a woman who only ever wanted a daughter but was believed to be “cursed” with two sons.
This moment in time focuses on Ed Gein’s warped devotion towards his mother, and shows a series of his crimes. From grave robbing to making human trophies, viewers follow both Gein and the Plainfield cops as these morbid acts led to the discovery of his farmhouse in 1957.
As the narrative shifts into the 1960s, viewers witness how Gein’s legacy reshaped American horror itself. The story shows how cultural icons such as Alfred Hitchcock and actor Anthony Perkins, were inspired by Gein’s story and how it heavily influenced the making of “Psycho” and later in 1974, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” by Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel. Using the true crimes and horror of Ed Gein, Tobe envisioned and created his own legendary killer known as Leather Face, a horror film icon still famously known to this day.
Following his incarnation, viewers are left watching the remaining years of Ed Gein’s life in psychiatric hospitals until his death in 1984. During these final years, viewers are subjected to watch Gein’s isolation and true diagnosis of his schizophrenia.
Acting & Performances
Featuring actors such as Charlie Hunnam, Addison Rae, Laurie Metcalf, and many more, each performance added a new unique element toward the storytelling.
Charlie Hunnam delivers one of the most odd performances to date. Known mainly for his role as “Jax Teller” from FX’s 2008 television series “Sons of Anarchy,” Charlie Hunnam embodies the haunting role of Edward Gein, a schizophrenic killer fighting for his mothers acceptance. His unique voice, almost childlike and yet heavy with guilt of not being good enough for his mother, adds to the unnerving reality. A small reminder that monsters not always scream, but sometimes whisper. Receiving heavy criticism for his unique voice acting, Charlie Hunnam speaks out.
According to an interview with Vanity, Hunnam says “The voice needed to be really specific, but I don’t think any of us really had an idea of what that was.” As a result, Charlie Hunnam reached out to Joshua Kunau, the producer of the documentary “Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein,” and asked if he would share the 70-minute interview with Gein that took place the night he was arrested. Using the recording to help his performance, Charlie finally found the voice he wanted to use as Ed Gein. “I started to see him through a series of affections to please his mother,” Hunnam says. “That’s where the voice came from.”
Surprisingly, TikTok star Addison Rae, known for her countless dancing videos, holds her own in this dark twisted series. While it’s not her first ever horror role, her casting initially raised eyebrows across social media. Throughout the series Rae brings an unexpected vulnerability to her role, balancing both the true horror around her and yet her character’s sense of innocence and disbelief-ultimately feeling sorry and pity for her.
The Final Verdict
Netflix’s “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” succeeds in creating a compelling atmosphere by blending true crime with psychological horror in a way only Ryan Murphy could deliver. Being Ryan’s third installment to the Monsters series, he didn’t lose any momentum. It’s a slow burn that crawls under your skin, transforming Gein’s fractured reality into obsession, isolation, and fear. This series leaves the viewer feeling eerie tension with every frame, and uneasiness with every second.
