Recently I have watched Monster: The Ed Gein Story and I am stunned by the performances and depiction of the serial killer, who is considered to be the Godfather of other most notorious serial killers of American history, such as Richard Speck (The Birdman), Jerry Brudos, Ted Bundy, and so on. Very little, I feel, to write a review about what I've watched, but this one in particular got me hooked for a few days. So here we go.
Focus on the Psyche Over the Crime
The series focused not on the crimes themselves, but on Gein's psyche, his internal turmoil, and his mental illness. Convicted as a gynophilic and a necrophiliac, the show's focus explores what led him to commit heinous acts like digging up the dead bodies, flaying them, making bodysuit, artefacts out of their skin, making masks out of real faces and so on. Special emphasis is given to his relationship with his mother, Augusta Gein. Her constant bashing, strict religious beliefs, and dismissal of his desires left deep scars on him that lasted until his death. Not to mention the complete isolation Ed Gein felt after the death of his mother which ultimately culminated in his attempt to try to bring his mother back by means of a very morbid way.
The Cultural Impact
The series also highlights the cultural impact of Gein's crimes. It points out the movies his life inspired, such as Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (Norman Bates), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Leatherface), and The Silence of the Lambs (Buffalo Bill). The series notes that Gein changed how society views 'monsters' with the nature of his crimes.
Introduced A Whole New Genre
Before Gein’s crimes, monsters in movies were usually supernatural, such as Frankenstein or The Phantom of the Opera. After he became notorious as The Butcher of Plainfield, monsters in movies started to look more human. Their twisted psyches and abominable crimes shifted the definition of monsters. The series made this point clear from the second episode, drawing parallels between the making of Psycho and the life of Ed Gein. It also compared the peculiarities of actor Anthony Perkins— such as his homosexuality, which at the time was seen as an illness—to Ed Gein’s obsession with flaying dead bodies.
Lasting Impression and Psychological Ambiguity
The series made an impact on me. After completing it for the last two days, I still cannot stop thinking about it. The various sequences, scenes, dialogues, and characters come to mind very frequently, so much so that I jot down my thoughts to reach a cohesive conclusion. The various sequences of Ed Gein's hallucinations made me unsure about many narratives the series has espoused, especially about Adaline Watkins. Whether she was real or just a hallucination, I'm still unsure.
Charlie Hunnam’s Transformative Performance
What made it more believable is the acting of Charlie Hunnam. I have seen some of his works previously, and I could not have thought he could have taken on such a dark and disturbing character with such authenticity. The way he played the character of Ed Gein is both heartwrenching (the last two episodes of the series) and disturbing (the horror spree of the initial episodes).Hunnam is seen completely immersed in his character, from losing almost 30 pounds (13 kgs) in three weeks to meet the physical attributes of the character, to giving a high-pitched soft voice like that of a child for the authenticity of his portrayal. Hunnam seems engrossed in his character so much so that the director of the 3rd season commended his dedication, saying he never saw anyone going this deep into their character.
Conclusion
Whether one views it as a psychological study, a cultural commentary, or a chilling retelling of true events, Netflix's Monster: The Ed Gein Story is undeniably gripping. Above all, Charlie Hunnam’s portrayal marks what could easily be considered the career-best performance to date.
Read more The Making of a Monster, Jeffery Dahmer
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