Most of us remember the moment we discovered that monsters weren’t just hiding under our beds—they walked among us. For generations, these human predators existed only as grainy photos on newspaper front pages or solemn reports interrupting our evening broadcasts. Today, we invite these horrors into our living rooms through dramatized series that dissect their psyches. Ryan Murphy’s latest, “Monster: The Ed Gein Story,” offers viewers another journey into darkness, and I couldn’t resist examining how cinema captures such notorious evil.
Ed Gein
Gein remains one of history’s most chilling figures—a serial killer whose life ended at 77 in 1984, claimed by cancer in the mental institution where he spent his final years. His story begins in bleakness and descends into nightmare. The horrific nature of his crimes overshadows even the grim circumstances of his upbringing: an alcoholic father and a domineering mother whose twisted beliefs shaped her son’s disturbed worldview. According to History Vault,
“Edward Theodore Gein was born in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, on August 27, 1906, to an alcoholic father and domineering mother, who taught her son that women and sex were evil.”
A Look Inside the Monster’s Lair
His atrocities—dismemberment, grave robbing, mutilation—defy comprehension. History Vault documents the gruesome discovery:
“In November 1957, police found the headless, gutted body of a missing store clerk, Bernice Worden, at Gein’s farmhouse. Upon further investigation, authorities discovered a collection of human skulls along with furniture and clothing, including a suit, made from human body parts and skin.”
However implausible it sounds, this was no fiction—Gein embodied the monster that haunted his victims’ final moments
The Man That Spawned Many Monsters
Nothing breeds nightmares quite like real-life horrors. Gein’s atrocities inspired some of cinema’s most iconic monsters: Norman Bates in “Psycho,” Buffalo Bill in “Silence of the Lambs,” and Leatherface in “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.” With such a grotesque legacy, it seemed inevitable that someone would eventually excavate the origins of the man behind these fictional terrors. Ryan Murphy accepted that challenge.
Ryan Murphy’s Crucible
Murphy has established himself as a formidable force in the horror genre, crafting acclaimed series that span from supernatural thrillers to true crime documentaries. His involvement alone lent credibility to this project. His previous foray into true crime, “Dahmer—Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” broke Netflix records, surpassing one billion viewing hours in just 60 days—joining the elite company of only “Squid Game” and “Stranger Things 4.” Murphy’s storytelling prowess has never been in question; he consistently demonstrates a remarkable ability to weave compelling narratives
According to Netflix TUDUM, Murphy admitted he had long contemplated how to approach Gein’s disturbing story.
“It was way outside my comfort range,” he confessed when asked about the project’s delay.
Despite his reservations about tackling such monstrous subject matter with Dahmer, Murphy eventually found his approach—and turned his considerable talents toward illuminating the darkness of Ed Gein.
Murphy Tackles Gein
This isn’t bedtime viewing for the squeamish. Some critics have balked at Murphy’s heightened approach, arguing Gein’s atrocities require no embellishment to horrify. There’s merit to this critique, yet Murphy’s amplification serves a purpose. His dramatization intensifies without distorting the essential truths of Gein’s depravity.
The Ed Gein Story
The series meticulously examines the elements that inspired cinema’s most enduring monsters. Viewers will find it difficult to disentangle the historical Gein from his fictional counterpart, Norman Bates. At times, the narrative pivots unexpectedly toward Hitchcock himself, exploring how the director translated real horror into cinematic terror, alongside Anthony Perkins’ haunting portrayal of Bates
The Good With the Bad
Critics might argue this overemphasis on the connection between Gein and his fictional offspring feels heavy-handed for a biographical series. Yet these parallels generate the tension that pulls viewers deeper into the narrative and leads to more questions and ultimately spurs the desire for more discovery about Gein, Hitchcock, and Perkins. Murphy succeeds in his primary objective: rendering a monster in full, terrible detail. While perhaps not his finest work, the series delivers undeniable entertainment value. “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” is currently streaming on Netflix for those curious to see Murphy’s vision of America’s original boogeyman.
Uncut Diamonds 