When Netflix announces a new true crime series, the world takes notice. But when the streaming giant decides to spotlight Ed Gein, one of the most disturbing figures in American criminal history, you know it will stir headlines, debates, and late-night binge-watching sessions.
On October 3, 2025, Netflix will release Monster: The Ed Gein Story, the third installment in Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s hit anthology “Monster.” The first season centered on Jeffrey Dahmer, the second on the Menendez brothers, and now it’s Gein’s turn to step under the harsh, unsettling spotlight.
Why does Gein’s case still haunt popular culture almost seven decades later? Let’s break down the story, the Netflix adaptation, and why audiences remain fascinated by one of America’s most infamous killers.
Who Was Ed Gein?
Born in Plainfield, Wisconsin, Ed Gein lived a reclusive and deeply troubled life. After his strict and controlling mother died in 1945, Gein’s world spiraled. Left alone in his farmhouse, he developed an obsession with anatomy and began stealing corpses from local cemeteries.
This wasn’t just macabre curiosity—it was the start of crimes so gruesome they would fuel nightmares for generations.
In 1957, police investigating the disappearance of a local woman arrived at Gein’s farmhouse. What they found shocked even the most seasoned investigators: human remains, body parts repurposed into household objects, and evidence of grave robbing on a disturbing scale.
Gein confessed to killing two women. He also admitted to his graveyard activities, but investigators believed there were more secrets hidden in his farmhouse than even Gein revealed.
Gein’s Legal Journey
Gein’s case did not unfold like a typical murder trial. From the beginning, his mental state was a central focus.
- 1957: Gein was arrested and charged with murder.
- 1958: He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and committed to a mental institution after pleading not guilty by reason of insanity.
- 1968: A decade later, he was found competent to stand trial for one of the murders. A judge ruled him not guilty by reason of insanity once again.
Gein spent the rest of his life in psychiatric care until his death in 1984.
From Real Horror to Reel Horror
Gein’s crimes were so shocking that they inspired some of Hollywood’s most chilling works:
- Norman Bates in Psycho (1960)
- Leatherface in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
- Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Each of these characters reflected fragments of Gein’s disturbing legacy, cementing him as a figure who blurred the line between fact and horror fiction.
Why Netflix Chose Gein for Monster
The success of Ryan Murphy’s Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story in 2022 proved that audiences are not only fascinated by true crime, but they also expect nuanced portrayals of infamous figures. By shifting focus to Ed Gein, Netflix taps into one of the earliest and most influential true crime cases in modern history.
Murphy and Brennan’s anthology format allows each season to dig deep into the psychology, social context, and cultural impact of a different killer. Gein’s story offers plenty of material: rural isolation, mental illness, obsession with death, and the shocking discoveries that still echo in pop culture.
What We Know About the Netflix Adaptation
While Netflix has kept casting details under wraps, here’s what has been confirmed:
- Release Date: October 3, 2025
- Format: Part of the “Monster” anthology series
- Creators: Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan
- Future Seasons: Season four will tackle the Lizzie Borden case, the infamous woman accused of murdering her parents with an axe in 1892.
The trailer for Monster: The Ed Gein Story has already dropped. However, due to its graphic nature, some outlets (like NewsChannel 7) have chosen not to share it.
Why Does Ed Gein Still Fascinate Us?
You might ask: why, after all these years, do we still talk about Gein?
The answer lies in what his story represents. Gein wasn’t a big-city serial killer stalking crowded streets; he was a quiet, almost invisible man living in rural Wisconsin. The sheer banality of his existence contrasted sharply with the horrors uncovered in his home. That contrast forces us to ask uncomfortable questions:
- How much do we really know about the people around us?
- Could such darkness exist in plain sight, even today?
- Why do we, as a society, remain captivated by tales of the macabre?
True crime series thrive because they explore these very questions—sometimes leaving us unsettled, but always curious.
The Debate Around True Crime Entertainment
Of course, dramatizing real-life crimes raises ethical concerns. Critics argue that such shows risk glorifying criminals or retraumatizing victims’ families. Supporters counter that careful storytelling can spark awareness, teach history, and highlight systemic failures in law enforcement or mental health care.
Murphy’s previous Monster installments have faced both praise and backlash. With Ed Gein’s story, Netflix will need to balance historical accuracy, sensitivity, and the chilling storytelling that audiences expect.
How to Watch Monster: The Ed Gein Story
- Streaming Service: Netflix
- Release Date: October 3, 2025
- Availability: Worldwide, with subtitles and dubs in multiple languages
- Episodes: Expected to be 6–8, similar to previous seasons
Pro tip: If the Dahmer series is any indication, prepare for the show to hit Netflix’s global Top 10 within days of release.
Looking Ahead: Lizzie Borden and Beyond
Netflix isn’t slowing down. After Ed Gein, the anthology shifts to the Lizzie Borden case for season four. Borden was accused (and acquitted) of brutally murdering her father and stepmother in Massachusetts in 1892.
By weaving together infamous cases across decades, Murphy’s “Monster” series is slowly becoming a true crime encyclopedia for streaming audiences—one shocking season at a time.
Final Thoughts
Ed Gein’s story is not just about crime; it’s about fear, obsession, and the human capacity for darkness. Netflix’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story promises to revisit those haunting questions with its trademark mix of drama, detail, and discomfort.
So, mark your calendars for October 3, 2025. Whether you’re a true crime aficionado or a casual Netflix binger, this is one series that will leave you questioning the line between real horror and the stories it inspires.