You've likely seen Psycho, the iconic thriller, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Perhaps you've also explored the original novels that served as the basis for the first two films. Now prepare to encounter the individual who inspired the Bates Motel owner, Buffalo Bill, and the chainsaw-wielding villain. The infamous Ed Gein!
The first two seasons of the series in question centered around the Milwaukee monster – an individual possessing strong recognition. This was followed by the Menendez brothers – a somewhat specialized case for dedicated true crime fans. Now the spotlight turns to the Plainfield Ghoul. While he may lack the brand recognition of other notorious killers, and only killed two people, his grave desecrations and macabre artistry with the deceased have made a profound impact. To this day, any media featuring mutilated bodies, flayed skin, or skin-based artifacts probably owes a debt to his actions from many decades past.
A Dismissive Approach
Is my tone too casual? This appears to be the deliberate approach of the production team. It's uncommon to witness a drama that lingers so gleefully on the worst depredations a person – and humanity – can commit. This includes a substantial narrative strand devoted to Nazi atrocities, presented with minimal moral context.
Effective Pacing and Narrative
Structurally and stylistically, the show is impressive. The pacing is flawless, and the clever interweaving of past and present is handled masterfully. Viewers witness Charlie Hunnam as Gein committing his crimes – the homicides, tomb violations, and assembling his collection. Simultaneously, the contemporary storyline follows Alfred Hitchcock, Robert Bloch, and Anthony Perkins as they craft the iconic film from Bloch's Gein-inspired novel. The integration 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.
The Glaring Omission
What it lacks, in a truly unacceptable way, is ethical commentary or deeper insight to counterbalance the protracted, admiring visuals of his immoral deeds. The series portrays his rich inner world and positions him as a helpless individual of his domineering mother and an accomplice with dark interests. The underlying suggestion seems to be: How could a mentally ill man resist? During a key moment, Robert Bloch theorizes that without exposure to photographs, Gein would have remained a small-town simpleton.
Breaking from Past Success
One might contend that a Ryan Murphy production – renowned for sleek, exaggerated aesthetics – is an unlikely source for deep psychological exploration. But previous works like the OJ Simpson trial drama offered sharp analysis on the press and the legal system. The Versace murder story delved into celebrity and society. Impeachment examined embedded misogyny. Thus, it is possible, and Murphy has done it.
The Ultimate Assessment
Yet not in this case. This installment feels like an exploitation of an underexploited true crime story. It demands sympathy for the man behind the masks without offering genuine insight into how he became a monster. Beyond the simplistic "religious mother" explanation, there is no attempt to understand the creation or prevent future cases. It is nothing but voyeuristic pandering to the basest instincts of viewers. The Nazi scenes do have lovely lighting, admittedly.
