- Netflix releases the third installment of Ryan Murphy's anthology series centered on Ed Gein, with eight episodes.
- The series combines audience success and divisive reviews, with controversy over its approach to true crime.
- Starring Charlie Hunnam and Laurie Metcalf, it includes cameos from key figures in horror cinema.
- The story is based on Gein's true story and its impact on popular culture, avoiding explicit details.
El Netflix's true crime phenomenon reignites the debate with Monster: The Ed Gein Story, the third installment of the anthology created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan. The production lands strongly in the global catalog and sneaks into the most watched, while reopens discussions on the limits of portraying real criminals.
In this new season, the platform opts for a more psychological approach of the character that inspired some of cinema's most iconic villainsThe series seeks to understand the context surrounding Gein without dwelling on the gruesome, and it does so with high-level staging and a top-notch cast.
Release date, episodes and reception
Netflix released the season on October 3 with a total of 8 episodes and simultaneous distribution in numerous countriesIn Spain, the premiere was activated in the morning, and in a matter of hours The series was positioned among the most viewed titles.
The commercial performance contrasts with the opinion of some critics: at the time of its arrival, several aggregators reflected discreet valuations (for example, Rotten Tomatoes cited a 29% approval rating from the press and a 53% rating from the public). Despite this, the franchise maintains its momentum and There is already talk of its continuity with new histories.
The situation once again brings to the table the reality of streaming: popularity rulesThe anthology continues to grow thanks to its viewing performance, beyond the ratings.
What it's about and the creative approach
The season focuses on the figure of Edward Theodore Gein and how its history penetrated the imaginary of terror from HollywoodThe script avoids explicit morbidity and focuses more on education, isolation, and obsession, elements that fit the specific social climate of the mid-20th-century American Midwest.
Ryan Murphy has explained that Its objective is to offer an unvarnished look at the character, beyond the catalog of facts, and Charlie Hunnam, who plays Gein, emphasizes that the axis of the season is understand what was "at the center" of that life marked by maternal dependence and loneliness.
The proposal avoids morbid reconstruction to pose uncomfortable questions: Why are we drawn to these stories? The trailer itself suggests this reflection by challenging the audience about their need to look.
Cast and key characters
The cast combines well-known faces with figures linked to the tradition of horror cinema. Charlie Hunnam leads the cast With restrained, physical labor, Laurie Metcalf builds a domineering mother whose shadow permeates everything.
- Charlie Hunnam es Ed Gein, a seemingly harmless neighbor whose life was shattered by the death of his mother.
- Laurie metcalf plays Augusta Gein, a possessive and ultra-religious figure who determines the protagonist's destiny.
- Lesley Manville embodies Bernice Worden, whose disappearance triggered the key investigation in the case.
- Suzanna Son gives life to Adeline Watkins, a character who provides an intimate and controversial perspective.
- Tyler Jacob Moore es Arthur Schley, the sheriff involved in the arrest and the subsequent difficult process.
- Charlie Hall plays Frank Worden, an important piece in finding the definitive clue.
- Tom hollander puts himself in the skin of Alfred Hitchcock, a bridge between real events and their echo in the cinema.
- Olivia williams es Alma Reville, Hitchcock's collaborator and wife, key in his creative process.
- Vicky Krieps embodies Ilse Koch, a historical figure that Gein knew from readings of the time.
- Joey pollari plays Anthony perkins, the actor immortalized as Norman Bates.
- Mimi Kennedy she is the psychologist Mildred Newman, linked to clinical debates of the time.
- Will Brill gives life to Tobe Hooper, director of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and a leading figure in the genre.
- Robin weigert Appears as Enid Watkins, sum of nuances in the social environment of the case.
- Addison rae participate as Evelyn, secondary presence with narrative impact.
Beyond the names, the season highlights how the events of Wisconsin They inspired characters such as Norman Bates, Leatherface and Buffalo Bill, demonstrating the power of this story as the seed of modern terror.
Who was Ed Gein? Background and verified facts
Edward Gein was born in 1906 in Wisconsin, in a home marked by a father with alcohol problems and a mother extremely rigid and overprotectiveThat family dynamic, combined with isolation on a farm in Plainfield, shaped his character from childhood.
After his father's death, Ed and his brother took over the house. The death of his brother Henry in a fire fueled speculation that was never proven.. The The decisive blow came in 1945 with the death of Augusta: since then, Gein became reclusive and his environment deteriorated..
Between the late 40s and 50s, police linked Gein to grave desecrations and with the disappearances of Mary Hogan (1954) and Bernice Worden (1957). His arrest came after the Worden case, and a search of his property revealed compelling evidence that prevented explicit details from being released due to their disturbing nature.
Gein confessed to two murders and several exhumations. He was initially declared unfit to stand trial for schizophrenia; in 1968 he was deemed fit to go to trial and He was convicted in the Worden case, although It was determined that he suffered from mental disorders at the time of the eventsHe spent the rest of his life in institutions and died in 1984, aged 77.
Controversy and debate surrounding true crime
As happened with Dahmer or with the season about the Menéndez, the new chapter of the anthology opens a debate about the line that separates the analysis of glorificationSome criticize the series for having too much empathy for the protagonist and not enough attention to the victims.
The season also It faces criticism for its portrayal of certain female characters and for the limits of audiovisual spectacle when addressing real cases.. Still, other viewers appreciate the atmosphere, tension and performances, as well as the attempt to question our consumption of macabre stories.
The tension between audiences and critics does not prevent the Monster brand from continuing to grow: despite the reproaches, The impact on viewings sustains the franchiseThe social dialogue it generates, for better or worse, has become part of its DNA.
Monster: The Story of Ed Gein arrives as a title that combines Massive engagement, controversy, and a solid castAnyone seeking to understand why this figure has so influenced contemporary horror will find context, references, and an approach that shies away from the explicit, while the public conversation about the limits of true crime remains as vibrant as ever.
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