Charlie Hunnam has taken on the role of Ed Gein, the infamous serial killer from the 1950s, in the latest season of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan's anthology series, Monster.
To prepare for the part, Hunnam spent months researching Gein's life, reading books, court transcripts, and medical records to understand what drove him to commit such heinous crimes. Hunnam aimed to portray Gein without sensationalising or glamorising his actions.
His dedication to the role was praised by co-star Suzanna Son, who plays Adeline Watkins, Ed's love interest. Son noted that Hunnam remained in character 80% of the time, making it easier for her to perform.
Tyler Jacob Moore, who plays Sheriff Schley, was also impressed by Hunnam's portrayal, stating that he was "shocked" by Hunnam's transformation into Gein.
The series explores Gein's life, including his isolated childhood, his obsession with his mother Augusta, and the horrifying consequences of his acts.
Gein's crimes inspired iconic horror figures, such as Norman Bates from Psycho and Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
The show challenges audiences to engage with Gein from a point of understanding, blaming his upbringing and disease for his horrific actions.
Monster: The Ed Gein Story has received mixed reviews, with a 50% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 44 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.
Despite this, the show's creators, Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, are confident in their portrayal of Gein's story. Brennan wrote all the episodes and co-directed them with Max Winkler, and he believes this season is the most impressive one he's worked on.