The Monster Series: Ed Gein's Tale – A Review of the Producer's Grim Murder Show
You've likely seen Psycho, the iconic thriller, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Perhaps you've also explored the books that served as the basis for the first two films. Now it's time to meet the man who inspired Norman Bates, Buffalo Bill, and the chainsaw-wielding villain. The infamous Ed Gein!
The initial installments of this anthology series focused on Jeffrey Dahmer – an individual possessing strong recognition. Then came the Menendez brothers – a somewhat specialized story for enthusiasts of the genre. Attention now shifts to the Butcher of Plainfield. While he may lack the brand recognition of other notorious killers, and only killed two people, his grave desecrations and gruesome creativity with female corpses have made a profound impact. To this day, any film or show featuring dismembered remains, removed epidermis, or items crafted from human tissue likely draws inspiration to Gein's exploits from many decades past.
A Tone of Flippancy
Do I sound flippant? This appears to be the intended style of the creators. Rarely have I seen a television series that dwells so eagerly on the worst depredations a person – and humanity – can commit. This includes a significant plotline devoted to the horrors of the Third Reich, presented with little to no justification.
Structural and Stylistic Strengths
Structurally and stylistically, the show is impressive. The rhythm is well-maintained, and the skillful blending of different timelines is handled masterfully. Viewers witness Charlie Hunnam as Gein committing his crimes – the murders, grave robberies, and assembling his collection. In parallel, the present-day narrative follows the creative minds as they develop Psycho from the literary source. The blending of the real – Gein's religious mother and his fixation with female doppelgangers – and the unreal – fetishistic depictions of the Buchenwald criminal and SS officer gatherings – is executed proficiently.
The Glaring Omission
The missing element, and unforgivably so, is any moral dimension or meaningful analysis to offset the lingering, loving shots of Gein's depraved acts. The show presents his vibrant fantasy life and positions him as a helpless individual of his domineering mother and a morbidly fascinated girlfriend. The implied message seems to be: How could a mentally ill man resist? In one scene, the novelist speculates that without seeing certain images, Gein would have remained a small-town simpleton.
Breaking from Past Success
You could argue that a show from this stable – known for glossy, high-camp style – is the wrong place for profound human insight. However, earlier series like the OJ Simpson trial drama offered sharp analysis on media and justice. The Assassination of Gianni Versace explored celebrity and society. Impeachment examined systemic sexism. So it can be done, and Murphy has done it.
The Final Verdict
Yet not in this case. This installment feels like a commercialization of a lesser-known criminal case. It demands sympathy for the individual responsible without offering genuine insight into how he became a monster. Aside from the reductive "devout parent" explanation, there is little effort to comprehend the origins or avert similar tragedies. It is nothing but gratuitous spectacle to the lowest curiosities of viewers. The wartime sequences do have lovely lighting, admittedly.
