The highly anticipated Monster: The Ed Gein Story has landed on Netflix, and it has opened, not with a bang, but with a gruesome thud. Most critics and viewers don’t seem satisfied with the Charlie Hunnam-starring crime drama biopic, with many calling it the weakest entry in the entire Monster series.
It currently has a 45% “rotten” critic score and a mediocre 64% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
While the global prominence of the Monster franchise, along with the infamy of Ed Gein, whose gruesome crimes inspired cinematic nightmares like Psycho and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, guarantees a healthy viewership worldwide, including the growing Indian market, it’s clear that both Netflix and showrunner Ryan Murphy still haven’t cracked the code with this franchise.
It all started with Monster Season 1, which explored the crimes of notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. It became a global sensation and a massive viewership success for Netflix. However, it didn’t take long for it to mire itself in controversy, particularly for its sensationalism and alleged exploitation of victims’ trauma. And it seems like Season 3 is following the same path.
One of the major criticisms of The Ed Gein Story revolves around its emphasis on shock value over psychological depth. Gein’s story is arguably the most grotesque of all, involving grave robbing and fashioning items from human remains. But excessive theatricality and sensationalism have plagued this chapter as well. Critics have also called the narrative unfocused and sloppy.
That said, not all reviews are negative. A noticeable portion of viewers have defended Season 3, calling it chilling and unsettling, with special praise directed at Charlie Hunnam’s career-defining performance. They also applauded the show’s meta attempt to make audiences question their own morbid fascination with serial killers.
Ultimately, Monster: The Ed Gein Story has cemented the franchise’s identity as a commercial juggernaut but a critical gamble. Despite guaranteed viewership drawn by Gein’s chilling legacy and the series’ global reach, the recurring criticisms, such as sensationalism, lack of focus, and shallow psychological depth, suggest Ryan Murphy and Netflix are still prioritizing shock over substance.
As the series moves on to its next historical monster, it faces a crucial challenge: evolve its narrative approach to transcend voyeurism and deliver genuine insight, or risk having its initial success overshadowed by the creative bankruptcy of relying on infamy alone. Stay tuned for more updates.
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