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You're probably familiar with Psycho, the iconic thriller, and the horror staple. Maybe you've even read the books that inspired the first two films. Now it's time to meet the man who inspired Norman Bates, Buffalo Bill, and the chainsaw-wielding villain. The infamous Ed Gein!

The initial installments of the series in question centered around the Milwaukee monster – a name with widespread notoriety. This was followed by the Menendez brothers – a more niche case for enthusiasts of the genre. Now the spotlight turns to the Butcher of Plainfield. While he may lack the household name status of other notorious killers, and only killed two people, his postmortem violations and macabre artistry with the deceased have made a profound impact. To this day, any film or show featuring dismembered remains, removed epidermis, or items crafted from human tissue probably owes a debt to his actions from many decades past.

A Tone of Flippancy

Do I sound flippant? It's clearly the intended style of the creators. It's uncommon to witness a drama that lingers so gleefully on the most heinous acts a person – and humanity – can commit. This extends to a substantial narrative strand devoted to the horrors of the Third Reich, presented with minimal moral context.

Effective Pacing and Narrative

In terms of construction and style, the series excels. The pacing is flawless, and the skillful blending of past and present is handled masterfully. We see the actor as the killer in action – the homicides, tomb violations, and curating his gruesome trophies. In parallel, the present-day narrative follows the creative minds as they develop Psycho from the literary source. The blending of the real – Gein's religious mother and his obsession with female doppelgangers – and fictionalized scenes – fetishistic depictions of Ilse Koch and Nazi party scenes – is executed proficiently.

A Critical Shortcoming

The missing element, and unforgivably so, is ethical commentary or meaningful analysis to counterbalance the lingering, loving shots of his immoral deeds. The series portrays his rich inner world and frames him as a helpless individual of his controlling parent and an accomplice with dark interests. The underlying suggestion seems to be: How could a mentally ill man resist? During a key moment, the novelist speculates that without seeing certain images, Gein would have remained an unremarkable local.

Breaking from Past Success

One might contend that a Ryan Murphy production – known for glossy, high-camp style – is the wrong place for deep psychological exploration. However, earlier series like The People v OJ Simpson offered brilliant commentary on the press and the legal system. The Assassination of Gianni Versace explored celebrity and society. The Clinton scandal series scrutinized embedded misogyny. So it can be done, and Murphy has done it.

The Final Verdict

Yet not in this case. The Ed Gein Story feels like a commercialization of a lesser-known criminal case. It asks for empathy for the individual responsible without offering genuine insight into how he became a monster. Aside from the reductive "devout parent" explanation, there is little effort to comprehend the origins or avert similar tragedies. It is nothing but gratuitous spectacle to the basest instincts of the audience. The wartime sequences do have excellent cinematography, admittedly.