Charlie Hunnam defends Monster: The Ed Gein Story, says Netflix series is not gratuitous
"It was all in order to try to tell this story as honestly as we could."
Charlie Hunnam, who stars in Monster: The Ed Gein Story, has defended the show’s divisive depiction of the titular serial killer.
The third season of Ryan Murphy’s anthology crime series, which was released on Netflix earlier this month, delves into the life of the Wisconsin farmer who became infamous for robbing graves and skinning corpses.
Much like the previous two seasons, Monster: The Ed Gein Story has drawn criticism from fans and critics alike due to its sensationalisation and glamorisation of Gein’s crimes, as well as for butchering the true story.
But in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Hunnam – who plays Gein in the series – has said he doesn’t agree that the series sensationalises the killer's crimes.
"I never felt like we were sensationalizing it," he said. "I never felt on set that we did anything gratuitous or for shock impact. It was all in order to try to tell this story as honestly as we could."
Hunnam went on to question whether Ed Gein is the real monster of the show, or whether it’s the audience for consuming the series.
"Is it Ed Gein who was abused and left in isolation and suffering from undiagnosed mental illness and went and that manifested in some pretty horrendous ways? Or was the monster the legion of filmmakers that took inspiration from his life and sensationalised it to make entertainment and darken the American psyche in the process?" he asked.
He continued: "Is Ed Gein the monster of this show, or is Hitchcock the monster of the show? Or are we the monster of the show because we’re watching it?"
Read more:
- Did Ed Gein really kill his brother, as portrayed in Netflix's Monster?
- Monster: The Ed Gein Story's Charlie Hunnam reveals the reason behind his unique accent
Monster: The Ed Gein Story is now streaming on Netflix – sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.
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Authors
Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.
