13 TV Shows Like ‘Monster: the Ed Gein Story’ That Are Worth Watching
I don’t know what it says about us that we can’t get enough of Ed Gein, oddly enough. While he may not have the body count to rank among America’s most notorious serial killers, his passion for crafting household items from human skin has more than earned him a place in that dark pantheon. Besides capturing the attention of true crime fans, his exploits have spawned numerous major media franchises: at last count, nine “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” films, as well as several films and a TV series based on Robert Bloch’s “Psycho” novel series—all of which are, however indirectly, definitely based on Gein.
And that’s before we even get to documentaries and docudramas, of which the current season of Monster is the last. It’s another monster (ahem) hit for Netflix, so you might want to dive deeper into the darkness once you’re done. Here are a few true (and not so true) crime dramas that could replace Gein before his inevitable return.
Bates Motel (2013 – 2017)
While “Monster” may leave you a little lost in fantasy, “Bates Motel” offers a deeper dive into Ed Gein’s cinematic universe. Freddie Highmore plays Norman Bates, Robert Bloch’s character based on Gein, and Vera Farmiga plays Norma (aka Mother!) in her prehistoric days. Like many media spinoffs of Alfred Hitchcock’s seminal film ” Psycho,” the film exceeds expectations, delivering impressively nuanced characters and a few surprises, even if we already more or less know where it’s all heading. Watch on Prime Video .
Mindhunter (2017–2019)
Set in the early days of criminal psychology and profiling within the FBI (the series begins in 1977), Mindhunter follows the work of the FBI’s Behavioral Sciences Unit. Special agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), along with psychology professor Wendy Carr (Anna Torv), travel through U.S. prisons in hopes of catching killers and anticipating future crimes by studying serial killers like Charles Manson, Edmund Kemper, and Jerry Brudos. Think The Silence of the Lambs , but with (mostly) real-life killers.Watch Mindhunter on Netflix .
Hannibal (2013 – 2015)
Here we have a cheerful, working-class equivalent of Ed Gein’s charm. By 2013, we truly felt we’d seen enough of Hannibal Lecter and company, as the string of Silence of the Lambs spinoffs and sequels was becoming increasingly tiresome. However, producer Bryan Fuller returned to the source material, re-adapting Thomas Harris’s first Lecter novel with a stately, operatic style and a visual flair unmatched on network television (you’re still unlikely to find more beautifully constructed carnage scenes). Moreover, the deeper, more sexual relationship between the good Doctor (Mads Mikkelsen) and profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) adds a brilliant subtext as they hunt serial killers together. The series ended a little prematurely, but three seasons still deserve a hearty binge. Watch Hannibal on Prime Video .
Alien (2020)
Fictional monsters, no matter how vile, have never scared me as much as real ones. This supernatural-tinged Stephen King adaptation is a little less disturbing than Gein’s story, but still deeply, deeply unsettling. The plot is brutal and impossible: a child is horribly (well, horribly ) murdered, and the evidence points decisively to little league coach Terry Maitland (Jason Bateman). It’s a straightforward case, except he was out of town at a conference when the murder occurred and even appeared on the news in another city. It’s engaging enough to overcome the initial revulsion, but The Outsider wastes no time. Bateman delivers a solid performance, as do Ben Mendelsohn and Cynthia Erivo as Holly Gibney, one of King’s recurring characters. Watch The Outsider on HBO Max or buy episodes on Prime Video and Apple TV .
Dexter (2006 – 2013)
A series that dares to ask: what if a serial killer were simply a good guy who primarily wanted to be helpful? Michael C. Hall plays Dexter Morgan, a Miami medical examiner with bloody, murderous urges. Fortunately (usually), he’s learned to channel these urges into dismembering villains rather than the more sympathetic innocents who typically end up in such killers’ crosshairs. Our Dexter is so charming that he starred in eight seasons of the series, recurring in three spinoffs, including the current Dexter: Resurrection . Watch Dexter on Paramount+ .
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (2018)
Ryan Murphy’s previously directed true-life crime epic stars Darren Criss as sociopathic serial killer Andrew Cunanan, whose final victim was legendary fashion designer Gianni Versace (Édgar Ramírez). Focusing on the sun-drenched sex and party scene of 1990s Miami Beach, Murphy showcased his signature style: sophistication, drama, and a focus on the killer that borders on sympathy. Watch The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story ( Season 2) on Hulu .
Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022)
Created by Ian Brennan and the ubiquitous Ryan Murphy, this justifiably controversial docudrama became the second-most-watched English-language show of all time on Netflix upon its premiere. Given Murphy’s track record, it’s no surprise the show was a success, but I’m not sure anyone could have predicted that the awkwardly titled story of a serial killer would become such a smash hit. While it attempts to expose the social inequalities Dahmer exploited to continue finding victims even when neighbors and community members expressed suspicions about his behavior, Ryan’s heightened style and his fascination with the killer himself raised questions about the line between entertainment and exploitation. Still, there’s no arguing with the show’s success.Watch Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story on Netflix .
Candy (2022)
The real-life Candy Montgomery was played by Barbara Hershey and Jessica Biel in this Hulu miniseries, and just a year later by Elizabeth Olsen on HBO Max. Jessica Biel is so good in that series that this one deserves extra points. In 1980, Candy was accused of murdering her neighbor, Betty Gore (Melanie Lynskey), after she had an affair with Candy’s husband, Allan (Pablo Schreiber). And with an axe. Was it cold-blooded murder or self-defense? Watch “Candy” on Hulu .
Mister Mercedes (2017 – 2019)
Based on Stephen King’s trilogy of detective novels, this series opens with a shocking scene of manslaughter, when the driver of a stolen Mercedes plows into a crowd at a job fair, killing 16 people. Retired detective Bill Hodges (Brendan Gleeson) becomes fascinated with the case, which draws him into a circle of rather brilliant young psychopaths (Harry Treadaway). Justin Lupe plays Holly Gibney, a King series regular who would later be played by Cynthia Erivo in The Outsider . Watch Mr. Mercedes on Peacock .
The Staircase (2022)
Inspired by the documentary of the same name, The Staircase avoids the clichés of true crime stories, taking a nearly meta approach. Colin Firth stars as Michael Peterson, a crime novelist, and Toni Collette as his wife and eventual victim, Kathleen, who died after falling down the stairs. Peterson was convicted of murder, later downgraded to manslaughter, and with many unanswered questions surrounding the case, the drama focuses on a number of supporting characters: lawyers, family members, and a French film crew who show up to document everything, offering a glimpse into life within the orbit of such a drama. Watch The Staircase on HBO Max or buy episodes on Prime Video and Apple TV .
Family Friend (2022)
This is a disturbing true-crime drama that’s completely murder-free yet still manages to be terrifying. Jake Lacy plays Robert Berchtold, who kidnapped and sexually assaulted Jen Broberg (Mckenna Grace) twice over the course of two years. This nightmare unfolds as Berchtold ingratiates himself with 12-year-old Broberg’s family, winning over both parents (including through sexual encounters) while grooming Jen before kidnapping her, only to repeat the horrific crimes upon her return. Lacy ( White Lotus ) is a charming presence, making it all the more terrifying for us, the viewers, even though we know what this family doesn’t know. Watch “Friend of the Family” on Peacock .
Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein (2023)
A four-part documentary series chronicling the crimes and horrors of Ed Gein, inspired by Gein’s appearance in audio recordings discovered in 2019, recorded by a police detective in the 1950s. For Ed Gein fans, this documentary probably won’t offer much new insight, but listening to Gein recount his crimes shortly after they were committed is undoubtedly a chilling experience. Watch “Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein” on MGM+ .
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019)
Strictly speaking, a made-for-streaming film rather than a series, Joe Berlinger’s Netflix original about the life of serial killer Ted Bundy deserves a mention here, partly because Bundy ranks alongside Gein in the exceedingly grim pantheon of American serial killers, and also because of its casting, starring the charming and conventionally attractive Zac Efron. The film follows Bundy from his law school days in Seattle in the late 1960s to (spoiler?) his execution in 1989. Efron is superb, as is Lily Collins as Liz Kendall, the woman who maintained Bundy’s innocence until it became impossible.Watch Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile on Netflix .