Review .The Monster. Ed Gein.

Review of the Ed Gein Series on Netflix

I’m a huge fan of true crime programs and have been fascinated by the psychology of notorious criminals for years. While I have no interest in emulating them, I enjoy learning about what made these “monsters” tick.

I recently finished the Netflix series on Ed Gein and found it absolutely brilliant from start to finish. Although it likely aired in the US before its UK release, it was well worth the wait.

The program compellingly illustrates how a domineering mother and an alcoholic, abusive father can severely impact a child’s development, even if the progression to mass murder is, thankfully, rare. The dynamic between Gein, his religiously fervent mother, and his self-absorbed brother provided a crucial context for his later actions.

The portrayal of Gein was particularly insightful, touching on the reported diagnoses of schizophrenia and cross-dressing/transvestitism often associated with him. The show was disturbing in many parts, and the graphics certainly enhanced the suspense—I appreciate that the director and producer committed to showing the grim reality of the story.

In my view, Charlie Hunnam played Gein perfectly; his performance was believable as each episode unfolded. The series contained numerous grotesque scenes, but the most unsettling depicted him exhuming female corpses for weeks and months after death to engage in necrophilia. It’s difficult to comprehend such behavior.

The drama also depicted Gein’s girlfriend as being equally strange. She seemed fully aware of his actions but, focused only on her own fame, ultimately denied all knowledge.

In summary, if you haven’t seen this series yet, I highly recommend it. As far as I’m concerned, it deserves an award. Well done, Netflix, for another fabulous drama providing insight into the minds of these monsters!