As the weather takes a chilly turn, many are trading their nights out for snug evenings in front of the telly. This means that a great number of Brits are on the hunt for Netflix recommendations, and luckily for them, there’s a fresh crime thriller landing on the streaming platform today (October 3).
Devotees of crime dramas will certainly want to prick up their ears, as this series, created by Ryan Murphy, delves into the tale of one of history’s most infamous serial killers.
Monster: The Ed Gein Story will shed light on the life of the real-life convicted murderer Ed Gein (portrayed by Charlie Hunnam) set against the backdrop of 1950s rural Wisconsin.
Gein, who was also referred to as the Butcher of Plainfield and the Plainfield Ghoul, was an American serial killer and body snatcher. Crimes he committed around his hometown of Plainfield, Wisconsin attracted widespread notoriety in 1957 after authorities discovered he had exhumed corpses from local graveyards and made himself keepsakes from their bones and skin.
He also confessed to killing two women, which were tavern owner Mary Hogan in 1954 and hardware store owner Bernice Worden in 1957.
Fans of true crime series have been excited about the show ever since it was announced, especially when the trailer was released last month.
Writing on Reddit at the time, one person said: “Just watched the trailer for this show and I am stupid excited. I did not have my hopes up for this but if it’s half as good as the trailer, I can’t wait.”
Another wrote on the thread: “Not a fan of Murphy but big fan of Charlie and I am looking forward to see how he transforms into Gein.”
While third chimed in: “This looks incredible, but this is what trailers do I guess. Hopefully it’s good.”
Many are also eagerly anticipating the appearance of US social media sensation and singer Addison Rae within the cast.
Rae, aged 24, will be stepping into the shoes of Evelyn Hartley in the series, a young woman from Wisconsin who mysteriously vanished in 1955.
Despite Gein being a prime suspect due to his close proximity to the disappearance and the unearthing of other victims, lie detector tests and further investigation absolved him from any involvement in her case.
One enthusiast gushed: “Addison Rae is going to smash that role,” while another chimed in: “Give her the Oscar.”
Whilst the majority are thrilled for the show, some have criticised the producers for making Ed Gein ‘hot’, with others grumbling about the ‘too many shows about serial killers’.
