Netflix has officially unveiled the trailer for Monster The Ed Gein Story, set to premiere on October 3. This new season stars Charlie Hunnam in one of his darkest roles to date, portraying the chilling figure who inspired horror classics like Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Silence of the Lambs. The trailer is deeply unsettling, offering glimpses into Gein’s troubled childhood, his twisted bond with his mother, and his disturbing crimes that shook an entire generation.
Like its predecessors, this third installment of Monster sticks to the show’s trademark formula by focusing heavily on the killer’s perspective. While that approach fuels audience fascination, it also raises familiar questions. Will Netflix repeat the same mistakes of sensationalising violence and humanising killers at the expense of victims, or will it deliver something more responsible this time?
The franchise’s earlier entries, Monster The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and Monster The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, were massive streaming successes. However, they drew backlash for glorifying brutality, with Dahmer in particular criticised by victims’ families for retraumatising them through graphic reenactments. Audiences accused the series of blurring the line between true-crime storytelling and exploitative entertainment.
That is why The Ed Gein Story comes with even greater scrutiny. Gein’s crimes were among the most horrific ever recorded, and reducing his victims, Bernice Worden and Mary Hogan, to side characters would be a grave ethical failure. Their stories deserve dignity and remembrance, not to be overshadowed by the myth of a “monster.
Much of the debate also circles back to showrunner Ryan Murphy. His trademark “stylised” and “glamorous” storytelling was a success in fictional horror like American Horror Story, but critics argue it becomes deeply problematic in true-crime dramas. Murphy’s approach with Dahmer was accused of being gratuitous and exploitative, while The Menendez Story faced fire for dramatizing unproven and damaging claims.
Even with the controversy, The Ed Gein Story is poised to be a juggernaut. Public appetite for true-crime content remains insatiable, and with Hunnam’s haunting performance and Murphy’s name attached, the show will almost certainly dominate streaming charts. But success cannot be measured by viewership alone. For Monster to evolve, it must strike a balance between gripping storytelling and respectful representation.
If this season highlights the resilience of victims, grounds its narrative in psychological and social truths, and avoids glamorising Gein’s gruesome acts, Netflix could transform a controversial franchise into a respected exploration of crime and humanity. Whether the series rises to that challenge will define its legacy.
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