‘Monster: The Ed Gein Story’ Biggest Moments: How They Shot the ‘Psycho’ Shower Scene With Added Gore and Nudity, Pulled Off That Musical Number and More
Key Takeaways
- Netflix's 'Monster' anthology has released its third season focusing on the life and crimes of serial killer Ed Gein.
- The season features Charlie Hunnam as Gein and explores his influences, including Nazi Ilse Koch and his relationship with his mother, Augusta.
- The showrunners, Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, intended to explore the complex question of who or what constitutes the 'monster' in Gein's story.
- The production team used varied visual styles inspired by other films to differentiate between Gein's reality, fantasies, and Hollywood's interpretations.
- The series examines the cultural impact of Gein's story, which inspired major horror films like 'Psycho' and 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.'
The highly anticipated third season of Netflix's 'Monster' anthology series centers on the life and crimes of serial killer Ed Gein, starring Charlie Hunnam as Gein and featuring Laurie Metcalf as his mother, Augusta. This season continues the anthology's trend of profiling notorious figures, incorporating elements of Gein's dark fantasies, including an obsession with Nazi Ilse Koch, and his interactions with various characters. Showrunners Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, with Max Winkler directing several episodes, aimed to explore the multifaceted nature of monstrosity, questioning whether the monster is Gein, his environment, or the subsequent pop culture interpretations. The production team meticulously crafted distinct visual styles for different narrative threads, such as Gein's reality, his fantasies, and the Hollywood adaptations of his crimes, like the shower scene in 'Psycho.' Winkler detailed how inspirations ranged from films like 'Capote' for conveying isolation to specific 16mm aesthetics for 'Texas Chain Saw Massacre' sequences. The series ultimately seeks to put Gein's story 'back in the box' while acknowledging its massive cultural impact, even as the creators prepare for the next season focusing on Lizzie Borden.
