Following the global success of the seasons on Jeffrey Dahmer and the Menendez brothers, Ryan Murphy returns with a new and chilling chapter of his Netflix crime anthology: Monster: The Ed Gein Story. Now sitting at number one on Netflix in the U.S., the new season has reignited the debate around true crime and the public’s fascination with evil. It focuses on one of the most sinister figures in American history, Ed Gein, whose crimes helped shape the language of horror in films and TV alike.
Here is everything you need to know about Monster: The Ed Gein Story – from the plot and cast to reviews and release date. The trailer is at the bottom of the article.
Monster: The Ed Gein Story – All the key details
- Title: Monster: The Ed Gein Story
- Format: Series
- Runtime: Season 3 – 8 episodes
- Genre: True crime, psychological thriller
- Release date: October 3, 2025
- Creator: Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan
- Lead cast: Charlie Hunnam, Laurie Metcalf, Tom Hollander, Olivia Williams
- Produced by: Netflix
What Monster: The Ed Gein Story is about
The new season plunges into the darkest corners of the human psyche, recounting the story of Ed Gein, born in 1906 in Wisconsin and raised under the control of a fanatically religious mother. After the deaths of his family members, Gein was left isolated on his farm, where he slid into delusion, desecrating graves and retreating into a fantasy world built around his mother’s image.
You may also like ► Inside Wayward: Netflix’s hit thriller unravels dark secretseries on Netflix
Despite only two confirmed murders, authorities have long suspected that the Plainfield Butcher claimed up to seven additional victims. Even more shocking is the number of graves he desecrated between 1947 and 1957, along with chilling cases of necrophilia and cannibalism.
With a creative team led by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, Monster 3 – The Ed Gein Story goes beyond a typical true crime show. The direction promises to combine psychological horror with human depth, creating an experience that investigates just how far the human soul can descend, while showcasing the power of television to confront history’s darkest corners. The chilling figure of Ed Gein has left an indelible mark on pop culture, inspiring cinematic masterpieces such as Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, The Silence of the Lambs, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Deranged, and even the character of Bloody Face in American Horror Story: Asylum.
The Ed Gein House of Horrors
Ed Gein developed a gruesome habit of violating graves, collecting body parts, and turning them into macabre household items. In 1957, after his arrest for the murder of Bernice Worden, police uncovered a true house of horrors: exhumed corpses, furniture built from human remains, masks stitched from skin, and even a grotesque “suit” made of female skin that Gein planned to wear in order to “become” his mother. A story that goes beyond fiction — one that lies at the very roots of cinematic terror.
Monster: The Ed Gein Story cast: the main characters
The infamous killer is portrayed by Charlie Hunnam, an iconic face from Sons of Anarchy, The Gentlemen, and Rebel Moon. His casting initially sparked debate, but critics now call it one of the boldest performances of his career. On Rotten Tomatoes, reviewers described Hunnam as “haunting, disturbing, and emotionally raw,” noting how his quiet intensity captures both the vulnerability and menace of Ed Gein. WBAL-TV praised him as “completely mesmerizing,” while The Hollywood Reporter acknowledged that his restrained approach anchors a series otherwise defined by chaos.
Laurie Metcalf delivers a terrifying turn as Augusta, Gein’s fanatical mother – a figure whose voice and presence haunt nearly every frame. Her performance has been singled out by critics as “a masterclass in psychological domination.”
Tom Hollander steps into the role of Alfred Hitchcock, embodying the filmmaker’s fascination with fear and moral ambiguity, while Olivia Williams plays Alma Reville, Hitchcock’s wife and creative partner. Together, they represent the bridge between Gein’s real-world horrors and the cinematic nightmares he inspired.
It’s a stellar ensemble for a story as real as it is unsettling – a reminder that in Murphy’s universe, great acting can turn even the most macabre material into a mirror for society’s darkest obsessions.
What reviews say about Monster: The Ed Gein Story
On Rotten Tomatoes, critics are sharply divided. Many outlets, including The Hollywood Reporter, The Age and Collider, argue that the season is garish and morally uneasy, accusing it of privileging provocation over insight and turning real trauma into prestige packaging. Others, like IndieWire and Pajiba, note that even with blunt execution the series usefully reflects how pop culture and audience fascination keep Gein’s legend alive. There is near-unanimous praise for Charlie Hunnam, with WBAL-TV calling his work “one of the best of his career” – haunting, disturbing and emotional. Divisive yet impossible to ignore, the show has become the streaming conversation of the moment.
Read more reviews on Rotten Tomatoes: rottentomatoes.com
Monster: The Ed Gein Story release date on streaming
Available now. Monster: The Ed Gein Story is already streaming on Netflix, where it currently ranks as the number one show in the U.S. Release date: October 3, 2025 ► WATCH ON NETFLIX
