First Look Of Charlie Hunnam As Notorious Serial Killer Ed Gein in Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Before Psycho and Texas Chainsaw, there was Ed Gein
Call it chilling, call it spellbinding, but don’t call it ordinary. Netflix has dropped the eerie first look at the upcoming third installment of Ryan Murphy’s Monster anthology and the sight of Charlie Hunnam transformed into the infamous Ed Gein is enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine.
As the true-crime genre continues to dominate screens worldwide, Netflix is about to push the boundaries even further with the upcoming release of Monster: The Ed Gein Story.
The third season of Ryan Murphy’s hit anthology series brings a new level of chilling fascination, as Charlie Hunnam steps into the role of one of the most disturbing figures in American criminal history: Ed Gein.
The first look, unveiled by Netflix, shows Hunnam in a dramatic transformation that is both haunting and unnervingly effective. The image presents the actor in the guise of the real-life killer whose gruesome crimes in rural Wisconsin during the 1950s would go on to inspire some of the most iconic horror films in cinematic history, including Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Silence of the Lambs.
With his unrecognisable portrayal, Hunnam evokes the deeply unsettling persona of a man whose shocking acts of violence have left an indelible mark on both American history and popular culture.
“I wanted to get as close as possible to who Ed was, to do him justice, and for this thing to feel authentic,” Hunnam shares about his portrayal of Ed Gein. “This is going to be the really human, tender, unflinching, no-holds-barred exploration of who Ed was and what he did. But who he was being at the center of it, rather than what he did.”
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The season, which will premiere on Netflix in October this year, promises to delve into the twisted psyche of Gein, a quiet, reclusive man who lived on a decaying farm in the remote plains of Wisconsin. Described by Netflix as a "house of horrors," Gein’s crimes were so grotesque that they would come to shape modern horror forever.
His twisted fascination with death and human anatomy, combined with his destructive relationship with his overbearing mother, led to a spree of grave robbing, body mutilation, and murder that shocked the nation.
According to the official synopsis for the series, “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.”
Ryan Murphy's Dark Vision
Ryan Murphy, the mastermind behind the Monster series, has become synonymous with blending true crime and horror in a way that captivates and disturbs in equal measure. After the success of Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and Monster: The Menendez Murders, Murphy and co-creator Ian Brennan return with another harrowing chapter, and the early promotional materials suggest this might be the darkest one yet.
With the tagline “Before Psycho… There Was Ed” and imagery of Hunnam wielding a chainsaw, wearing a skin mask, and lying disturbingly close to a maternal figure, the series promises to explore the horrors that lay at the heart of Gein’s crimes.
The internet’s reaction to the first look has been divided, with some critics concerned that the release, which coincides with Gein’s birthday and falls just before Halloween, may be seen as “glorifying” or “romanticising” his crimes. However, for many viewers, the anticipation is palpable, with Monster’s previous seasons already capturing the fascination of true-crime aficionados.
The Legacy of Ed Gein
Born in 1906, Gein’s upbringing was marked by neglect, abuse, and a fanatical religious influence from his mother, who instilled in him an intense hatred of sex and women. After the deaths of his parents in the mid-1940s, Gein’s mental health deteriorated rapidly, and his increasingly bizarre behaviour took a dark turn.
In 1957, police discovered the horrific truth when they raided his home, uncovering human remains, preserved body parts, and various unsettling trophies.
Gein was arrested and charged with murder, though his trial was never completed due to his being declared insane. He was confined to a mental institution for the remainder of his life and died in 1984. His story has captivated filmmakers, writers, and horror enthusiasts ever since, with his chilling legacy continuing to inspire the creation of fictional killers like Norman Bates, Leatherface, and Buffalo Bill.
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A Stellar Cast and a Dark Future
Alongside Hunnam, the cast of Monster: The Ed Gein Story features a talented array of actors, including Suzanna Son, Tom Hollander, Laurie Metcalf, Vicky Krieps, Olivia Williams, Joey Pollari, and Lesley Manville. The series promises a nuanced portrayal of Gein’s disturbing relationships and his warped vision of reality, with each actor contributing to the tense atmosphere that Monster has become known for.
In 2022, the first season of Monster, which focused on the crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer, became a cultural phenomenon, with Evan Peters earning widespread acclaim for his chilling portrayal of the infamous killer.
The second season, which tackled the case of Lyle and Erik Menendez, caused a stir due to its controversial depiction of the brothers’ relationship with their parents. Now, with The Ed Gein Story, Murphy and Brennan are pushing even further into the realms of horror, with a true-crime narrative that promises to disturb and haunt in ways that only the darkest of minds can imagine.
Monster: The Ed Gein Story is not for the faint of heart. With its chilling portrayal of one of the most infamous figures in criminal history, the series is set to leave a lasting impact on viewers, just as Gein’s story has on American horror.
As the premiere date of October 3, 2025, draws closer, true-crime enthusiasts and horror fans alike are sure to be watching it for the eerie transformation of Hunnam, but for the shocking, gruesome tale of Ed Gein, a man who turned the American countryside into a living nightmare.
Are you ready to meet the man who inspired the nightmares of generations? Monster: The Ed Gein Story drops this autumn.