Premiere

Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan are following up again on the success of their 2022 miniseries Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, which was originally conceived as a limited series but returned with an acclaimed second installment in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Season 3 centers on Ed Gein, set to be portrayed by Charlie Hunnam, an infamous serial killer whose story inspired some of Hollywood’s biggest horror films.

When will Monster Season 3 premiere?

The exact premiere date for Monster: The Ed Gein Story is October 3 on Netflix.

Who stars in Monster: The Ed Gein Story?

Joining Hunnam is Laurie Metcalf, who will portray his on-screen mother, Augusta Gein. Suzanna Son also stars as Adeline Watkins, Gein’s former romantic partner. Tom Hollander will play Alfred Hitchcock, and Olivia Williams will portray Alma Reville. Additional cast members include Vicky Krieps as Ilse Koch, Olivia Williams as Alma Reville, Lesley Manville as Bernice Worden, Joey Pollari as Anthony Perkins, Charlie Hall as Deputy Worden, Tyler Jacob Moore as Sheriffy Schley, Mimi Kennedy as Dr. Mildred Newman, Will Brill as Tobe Hooper, and Robin Weigert as Enid Watkins.

Is there a trailer for Monster: The Ed Gein Story?

Yes. Netflix dropped the full trailer for the series on September 15, and it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. With the chilling tagline, “You’re the one that can’t look away,” the trailer shows Hunnam seemingly addressing the viewer directly while leading them through the most nightmarish moments of Gein’s atrocities. Watch the trailer above.

The first teaser for the series was released on September 4, showing an investigator searching through Ed Gein’s home to find fragments of skin scattered throughout. It featured the first glimpse of Hunnam as Gein.

What is Monster Season 3 about?

The synopsis for Monster: The Ed Gein Story reads as follows: “Serial killer. Grave robber. Psycho. In the frozen fields of 1950s rural Wisconsin, a friendly, mild-mannered recluse named Eddie Gein lived quietly on a decaying farm – hiding a house of horrors so gruesome it would redefine the American nightmare. Driven by isolation, psychosis, and an all-consuming obsession with his mother, Gein’s perverse crimes birthed a new kind of monster that would haunt Hollywood for decades. From Psycho to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre to The Silence of the Lambs, Gein’s macabre legacy gave birth to fictional monsters born in his image and ignited a cultural obsession with the criminally deviant. Ed Gein didn’t just influence a genre — he became the blueprint for modern horror.”

“Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s groundbreaking anthology series returns with its third, most harrowing installment yet,” the synopsis continues. “Monster: The Ed Gein Story tells the story of how one simple man in Plainfield, Wisconsin, became history’s most singular ghoul. He revealed to the world the most horrific truth of all — that monsters aren’t born, they’re made…by us.”

Who was Ed Gein?

Gein was born and raised in Wisconsin, where he endured a toxic household. According to Britannica, his father was an alcoholic, and his mother was verbally abusive. Although his older brother often stood up for him, Ed remained deeply attached to his mother and her religious beliefs. Throughout the 1940s, the family was further torn apart by the tragic deaths of each member, shattering Ed.

According to Biography, Gein became a recluse but continued to work odd jobs to support himself. As residents of Plainfield began to disappear, he became a suspect. Eventually, Gein solved the mystery for them by confessing to two murders during questioning.

Gein’s actions shook up the small town, earning him the nicknames, “Butcher of Plainfield,” “Plainfield Ghoul,” and the “Grandfather of Gore.” Though he was eventually found guilty of murder and later died from cancer in 1984, his gravesite has become a tourist attraction, and his various appearances in the media have kept him alive.

Why did Murphy and Brennan choose Gein?

With so many serial killers to choose from, it begs the question: Why Gein? In an interview with Collider, Murphy shared some insights into the team’s decision-making process, speaking on how influential Gein has been to the horror genre. In addition to Psycho, Murphy noted his impact on films like The Silence of the Lambs, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and American Psycho.

The title, The Original Monster, also revealed by Murphy in the interview, suggests this season will broaden its scope and focus not only on the circumstances surrounding Gein’s crimes, but also the role of the entertainment industry in immortalizing him. Given the series’ previous criticisms, this could be the angle it needs for continued success.

Monster: The Ed Gein Story, October 3, Netflix