Summary
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Monster: The Ed Gein Story opened on Netflix with a 45% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes (based on 11 reviews) and a 64% audience score.
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The season follows Charlie Hunnam’s portrayal of Ed Gein and sits in line with mixed reception for the anthology’s earlier seasons.
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Critics praise Hunnam and co-stars while calling out tone, focus, and the show’s treatment of its subject matter.
Netflix’s latest entry in Ryan Murphy’s true-crime anthology, Monster: The Ed Gein Story, landed October 3 and arrived with a mixed critical reception. The series starring Charlie Hunnam as Ed Gein and directed by Max Winkler currently holds a 45% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 64% audience rating, reflecting a divisive response that echoes reactions to earlier seasons in the Monster franchise.
What are the Rotten Tomatoes scores for Monster: The Ed Gein Story and how do they compare?
Upon release, Monster: The Ed Gein Story posted a 45% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes compiled from 11 reviews, while viewers gave the show a 64% audience score. Those numbers put the Ed Gein season roughly in line with the anthology’s broader critical trajectory so far.
For context, the franchise’s previous seasons showed similar splits between critics and viewers:
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DAHMER: Monster — The Jeffrey Dahmer Story opened to mixed critical reception (reported negative 57% critics score) but strong audience interest, ultimately becoming the most-watched entry in the series with very high view counts and an 82% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
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Monsters – The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story registered 45% from critics and performed poorly with audiences on some platforms, drawing significant controversy from the real-life subjects.
Across the three seasons, the Monster anthology averages about 50% critics and 68% audience scores — figures that show consistent viewer interest even when critics are skeptical.
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What are critics saying about Charlie Hunnam’s performance in Monster: The Ed Gein Story?
Critics largely agree that Charlie Hunnam and co-star Molly Metcalf deliver strong performances, even when reviews take issue with the series’ broader approach. Several reviewers noted that Hunnam brings a committed, cinematic presence to Ed Gein, contributing to the show’s film-noir atmosphere in scenes set against bleak, snowy Wisconsin farmland.
However, praise for acting has been paired with criticism of creative choices: reviewers have flagged the show’s shifting tone, occasional reliance on sensational detail, and periods where character nuance is sacrificed. Some reviews contend that the series leans too heavily on shock value and mythologizing, while still conceding the actors’ craft as a saving grace.
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How do reviewers critique the series’ storytelling and tone?
Many of the early critiques focus on the show’s mixture of factual material and fictionalized storytelling. Reviewers point to three recurring issues:
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Tone and Focus: Several critics say the season struggles to settle on a consistent tone, veering between psychological portrait and exploitation. That unevenness can undercut the show’s attempts at deeper commentary.
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Myth vs. Reality: Some reviews argue the series amplifies the rumors that surrounded Gein in life, at times prioritizing sensational elements over documentary-like scrutiny or empathetic character study.
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Victim Representation: Commentators have also criticized the series for not sufficiently centering victims, arguing that the choice to foreground the killer and sometimes to humanize him risks minimizing the real harm done.
Still, not all critics take a wholly negative view. A handful have recognized the season’s ability to introduce viewers to an influential but lesser-known figure in horror lore and to place his crimes within the cultural line that stretches from Psycho to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
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Which reviews highlight the show’s strengths despite its flaws?
Positive elements commonly cited include acting, atmosphere, and historical context. Some reviewers have noted:
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Charlie Hunnam’s and Molly Metcalf’s performances are consistently strong and compelling.
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The show effectively evokes a stark, isolated mid-century Wisconsin setting that bolsters its noir elements.
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For viewers unfamiliar with Ed Gein’s place in horror history, the season serves as an accessible primer on a figure who influenced major genre films.
These endorsements tend to be cautious acknowledging quality in pockets rather than endorsing the season wholesale.
Audience reaction has been more receptive than critical reaction, with a 64% audience score reported on Rotten Tomatoes at release. That figure is lower than Dahmer’s particularly high audience approval but still signals a meaningful level of viewer engagement. Early audience response suggests a polarized view: some appreciate the performances and production design, while others take issue with narrative choices or the ethics of dramatizing true crime centering on a serial killer.
Netflix has made the season available to stream globally, and the show’s viewership trajectory in the coming weeks will offer better insight into how wide the audience appeal proves to be.
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Who’s in the cast of Monster: The Ed Gein Story?
Below is the principal cast as reported at release, with a brief note on each role:
| Actor | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Charlie Hunnam | Ed Gein | Plays the infamous serial killer and grave robber. |
| Molly Metcalf | (Co-star) | Delivers a praised supporting turn opposite Hunnam. |
| (Additional supporting cast) | — | The season includes a roster of actors who populate mid-century Wisconsin settings and law enforcement roles. |
(Notes above reflect the focus of early reviews: strong lead performances and notable supporting work.)
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How does Monster: The Ed Gein Story fit within the Monster anthology?
Ryan Murphy’s Monster anthology revisits high-profile criminal cases with a blend of dramatization and stylized storytelling. The series has been designed as a marketplace for director-driven, limited-season true-crime portraits each examining a notorious case from a particular creative vantage point.
Season 3’s take on Ed Gein continues the anthology’s pattern: big names, ambitious visuals, and controversy. That formula has driven both attention and debate across prior seasons, and the Gein story continues that trend by inviting discussion about ethical storytelling, staged dramatization, and the balance between examination and sensationalism.
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Are there positive exceptions in critical response?
Yes. While many reviews are mixed or negative, a minority of critics and commentators praised the season as the strongest installment yet — pointing to its chilling focus and historical relevance. These voices called out the series’ capacity to contextualize Ed Gein’s cultural afterlife, and they argued that the unsettling subject matter is handled with enough artistry to merit attention.
Such positive takes, however, remain in the minority at launch.
Monster: The Ed Gein Story debuted on Netflix on October 3, 2025 and is available to stream on the service worldwide.
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