Monster: The Ed Gein Story on Netflix opens at 29%—the audience score is not the same

Netflix’s latest true crime entry, “Monster: The Ed Gein Story”, revisits the Plainfield, Wisconsin case. Ed Gein admitted to two murders and to robbing graves; a 1957 search at his farm recovered human remains and items made from them.

Release date: Oct 3, 2025 · Location: Plainfield, Wisconsin · Format: Netflix series entry in Ryan Murphy’s anthology

“Monster: The Ed Gein Story” presents the Wisconsin case that influenced characters in Psycho and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. The real record shows two murders, multiple grave robberies, and a farmhouse search that recovered human remains and items fashioned from them. Stream page: Netflix. Case background: Ed Gein; archived dossier (Radford University PDF): case file. For casting information, see Netflix Tudum. For related reading on our site: Menendez coverage and series reviews.

Source pages: Netflix, Radford case file, and historical summaries linked above.

The Netflix dramatization of Ed Gein’s life and crimes marks the third installment in Ryan Murphy’s controversial “Monster” anthology, following series on Jeffrey Dahmer and the Menendez brothers. While the timeline above presents the factual events, the Netflix series takes significant creative liberties to craft a more cinematically compelling narrative.

Critics have largely panned “Monster: The Ed Gein Story,” with the series earning a dismal 29% on Rotten Tomatoes—the lowest score of any installment in the anthology. Variety’s Aramide Tinubu criticized the show for making “Ed Gein mythical again,” while The Guardian’s Lucy Mangan described it as “nothing but a voyeuristic pandering to the basest instincts of viewers.”

Despite these criticisms, Charlie Hunnam’s performance as Gein has received praise for its commitment and psychological depth. The English actor studied rare audio recordings to capture Gein’s voice and mannerisms, creating what Variety called “the year’s most daring TV performance.”

The series attempts to explore the psychological roots of Gein’s disturbing behavior, particularly his relationship with his domineering mother Augusta (played by Emmy winner Laurie Metcalfe). However, this psychological exploration often comes at the expense of historical accuracy and raises questions about the ethics of dramatizing true crime.

Ed Gein’s gruesome crimes left an indelible mark on American popular culture, particularly in the horror genre. Despite his relatively low body count compared to other notorious killers, the disturbing nature of his crimes and the psychological elements of his case provided rich material for filmmakers.

Three iconic horror villains were directly inspired by aspects of the Gein case. Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” (1960) was based on Gein’s unhealthy attachment to his mother and his desire to become her after death. The character was first created by Milwaukee author Robert Bloch in his novel, which was then adapted by Hitchcock into a groundbreaking horror film.

Leatherface from “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974) drew inspiration from Gein’s practice of making masks from human skin. The film’s premise of a isolated rural killer who fashions items from human remains closely parallels elements of the Gein case.

Perhaps most famously, Buffalo Bill in “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991) was partially modeled after Gein, particularly the character’s desire to make a “woman suit” from his victims’ skin. These fictional portrayals have often overshadowed the real case, creating a mythology around Gein that sometimes obscures the tragic reality of his victims and the complex psychological factors behind his crimes.

The critical response to “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” has been overwhelmingly negative, with reviewers criticizing both its stylistic choices and ethical approach. With a 29% Tomatometer score from 17 critic reviews, it ranks as the lowest-rated installment in Ryan Murphy’s “Monster” anthology to date.

Critics have specifically targeted the series’ “sensationalism” and “lack of focus.” Screen Rant’s Greg MacArthur rated it just 2/10, stating the season “elicits unpleasantries — boredom, frustration, confusion, disgust,” while Collider’s Therese Lacson described it as “pulpy and sloppy… a product of sensationalism, rage bait, and misinformation.”

A common criticism centers on the series “humanizing the killer while trivializing his victims,” raising important questions about the ethics of true crime entertainment. Despite these criticisms, the series has attracted viewers curious about one of America’s most notorious cases, demonstrating the enduring public fascination with true crime narratives regardless of critical reception.

“Monster: The Ed Gein Story” continues Netflix’s controversial approach to true crime dramatization, walking the thin line between historical documentation and entertainment. While Charlie Hunnam’s committed performance provides some depth to the portrayal, the series ultimately struggles with the responsibility of depicting real tragedy. The actual Ed Gein case remains historically significant not only for its gruesome details but for its profound influence on horror cinema and popular culture. As viewers engage with this latest adaptation, it’s worth considering how dramatization shapes our understanding of historical events and whether such portrayals serve to illuminate the psychological and social factors behind crime or simply exploit tragedy for entertainment. The poor critical reception suggests that audiences and reviewers are increasingly demanding more thoughtful approaches to true crime narratives that respect victims while still examining the darker aspects of human nature.

Watch the complete trailer