ED GEIN’S HOUSE OF HORRORS: A DOCUMENTARY THAT GOES BEYOND THE GRAVE

October 21, 2025 16 1

Megan Grobler

@megan.gro_bler

Netflix’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story, the third instalment in the acclaimed biographical crime drama series, was released on 3 October 2025. It quickly climbed to the number one spot on the platform’s Top 10 list, where it remained for two weeks.

The true crime dramatization offers a graphic depiction of the crimes committed in Plainfield, Wisconsin, in the 1950s by the convicted murderer, grave robber, and suspected serial killer Edward Theodore Gein, also known as Ed Gein. He was nicknamed The Plainfield Ghoul, The Plainfield Butcher, and the Butcher of Plainfield.

This story follows Ed Gein’s real killings, including a tavern owner, Mary Hogan, in 1954, a hardware store owner, Bernice Worden, in 1957, and the grave robbing and mutilation of multiple corpses. He only gained notoriety after police discovered his hobby of exhuming graves and crafting keepsakes from the bones and skin of his victims. His actions were believed to have been driven by severe psychosis.

Deeply disturbing themes are explored in Monster: The Ed Gein Story, including violence and sexual misconduct, which may be triggering for sensitive viewers.

Charlie Hunnam, who played Ed Gein, experienced significant psychological and emotional distress during and after filming this true crime retelling. According to The Film Zone and People.com, he had serious doubts about his ability to handle the dark subject matter before accepting the role.

The Tab and TODAY.com reported that Hunnam visited Ed Gein’s unmarked grave a week after filming to say goodbye and symbolically move on with his life. Variety stated that he coped with the role by looking at it through an empathetic lens and by finding humanity in the character. He wanted to portray the story honestly.

While captivating and intriguing, the series is also at times uncomfortable, graphic, vulgar, and overwhelming. This dramatic retelling is not for the faint of heart, and it is strongly advised that viewers check the content warnings before watching.