You've likely seen the Hitchcock classic, the iconic thriller, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Perhaps you've also explored the original novels that inspired the first two films. Now prepare to encounter the individual behind Norman Bates, Buffalo Bill, and the chainsaw-wielding villain. The one and only Ed Gein!
The initial installments of the series in question focused on the Milwaukee monster – an individual possessing strong recognition. Then came the Menendez brothers – a more niche story for enthusiasts of the genre. Now the spotlight turns to the Butcher of Plainfield. Although he doesn't possess the household name status of Dahmer, Bundy, or Gacy, and his confirmed victims number just two, his postmortem violations and macabre artistry with the deceased have made a profound impact. To this day, any media featuring dismembered remains, flayed skin, or items crafted from human tissue probably owes a debt to Gein's exploits from over 70 years ago.
A Dismissive Approach
Do I sound flippant? It's clearly the intended style of the production team. It's uncommon to witness a drama that dwells so eagerly on the worst depredations a person – and humanity – can commit. This includes a significant plotline devoted to the horrors of the Third Reich, presented with little to no justification.
Effective Pacing and Narrative
Structurally and stylistically, the series excels. The pacing is flawless, and the skillful blending of different timelines is executed brilliantly. Viewers witness Charlie Hunnam as Gein committing his crimes – the murders, grave robberies, and curating his gruesome trophies. Simultaneously, the present-day narrative follows Alfred Hitchcock, Robert Bloch, and Anthony Perkins as they craft the iconic film from the literary source. The blending of the real – his devout parent and his fixation with women resembling her – and the unreal – lurid portrayals of the Buchenwald criminal and SS officer gatherings – is handled with technical skill.
A Critical Shortcoming
The missing element, and unforgivably so, is ethical commentary or deeper insight 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? In one scene, the novelist speculates that without exposure to photographs, Gein would have remained a small-town simpleton.
Breaking from Past Success
One might contend that a show from this stable – known for sleek, exaggerated aesthetics – is the wrong place for profound human insight. However, earlier series like The People v OJ Simpson offered sharp analysis on the press and the legal system. The Assassination of Gianni Versace delved into celebrity and society. The Clinton scandal series examined embedded misogyny. Thus, it is possible, and the producer has succeeded before.
The Final Verdict
But not here. The Ed Gein Story feels like an exploitation of an underexploited true crime story. It demands sympathy for the man behind the masks without offering genuine insight into his transformation. Beyond the simplistic "devout parent" reasoning, there is little effort to understand the creation or avert similar tragedies. It is nothing but voyeuristic pandering to the basest instincts of viewers. The Nazi scenes do have excellent cinematography, though.
