After Monster: The Ed Gein Story, I’m more convinced than ever that this 8-year-old series is Netflix’s crowning achievement. Netflix originals have varied drastically in quality over the years, with the streaming service’s mass production of films and television succeeding in providing something for everyone, while also generating quite a few duds. With Monster: The Ed Gein Story’s abysmal reviews and widespread, impressive viewership, it’s hard to say for sure if it was a success or a failure.
Ryan Murphy’s Monster anthology series looks to examine the lives of some of the world’s most notorious killers, demonstrating the familial dynamics that led them to their dark fates. The psychology of criminals is a subject that has captivated audiences for years, but Monster’s entertainment-driven, sensationalized approach has often been flagged as distasteful. When compared to another series like Mindhunter, which is far more thorough and honest in its depiction of infamous men, it’s easy to see the distinction.
‘Mindhunter’ is the Greatest Netflix Original of All Time
I’ve loved Mindhunter for years, and, whether fans think it ended too soon, I thoroughly believe that it holds its own as a concise, sharp, two-season series. David Fincher’s legendary directorial style immediately sets the tone for the saga, bringing a production quality on par with classic serial killer thrillers like Zodiac and Se7en, and he’s paired with an outstanding writing team and the source material of Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit, allowing for a brutally faithful approach.
The serial killer interviews stand out as the most extraordinary part of Mindhunter, but the element that makes it such an all-time hit is its protagonists. The dichotomy between Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) makes for endlessly compelling television on its own, creating an investigative duo that deserves to be mentioned alongside Mulder and Scully or the Winchester brothers. Not to mention, throwing characters like Wendy Carr (Anna Torv) and Ted Gunn (Michael Cerveris) into the mix, which only expands the drama.
Why ‘Monster’ Falls Short of ‘Mindhunter’
It’s easier to see the virtues of a film or TV show when comparing it to another, but Monster sets itself up for comparisons on a silver platter by using its finale for a mock Mindhunter scene. The Ed Gein Story stages a scene evidently referential to Mindhunter’s interviews, bringing actor Happy Anderson back to reprise his role as killer Jerry Brudos, and two newcomers to emulate Ford and Tench. Rather than the delicate, measured writing of Mindhunter, this scene immediately goes off the rails as Brudos cranks out as much explicit, sexual dialogue as he can in the short span.
Mindhunter received widespread acclaim for its candid depiction of some of the most violent men in recent history, and Monster’s reference to it reduced this notion to its most shocking, appalling aspects. The lack of patience and depth exhibited is entirely emblematic of how Monster: The Ed Gein Story, and the previous seasons of the anthology, fall short of its Netflix serial killer neighbor. The series attempts to capitalize on the American antihero fascination, mischaracterizing the deeds of terrible men as “complex” characters, while Mindhunter manages to both entertain and educate on the genuine, horrific capacity of human nature.
- Release Date
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October 3, 2025
- Network
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Netflix
- Directors
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Carl Franklin