Posted on: September 5th, 2025

Ryan Murphy’s latest hit series Monster is set to return via Netflix on October 3rd.

Having previously portrayed fictionalised versions of the crimes of Jeffery Dahmer and Lyle and Erik Menendez, season three will focus on Ed Gein.

The promotional campaign has officially begun, with the release of three posters for the show. Each poster highlights the cinematic influence Gein’s crimes have had over the years. With Gein’s crimes being a heavy influence on the classic horror tales Psycho, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and The Silence of the Lambs, it makes perfect sense that the marketing for Monster would highlight this legacy.

However, the resultant posters haven’t been as warmly received as Netflix had likely hoped. It’s not the homages to the iconic horror movies that’s gotten people upset, as it’s undeniable Gein influenced these classics. The negative response has come from the portrayal of Ed Gein actor Charlie Hunnam.

On each poster, Hunnam is seen brooding, and dressed in a white vest. Particular attention is given to the actor’s muscular physique as he brandishes a chain saw, in an homage to Tobe Hooper’s classic.

This sparked immediate backlash online, with many accusing Netflix of overtly sexualising Ed Gein, as opposed to vilifying him. Indeed, the portrayal of Hunnam on the posters is in stark contrast to Gein’s physical appearance in real life. Rather slight, walking with a notable hunch, Gein appeared reserved and old beyond his years.

Consequently, many are questioning why Netflix have chosen to portray Gein this way, when posters for previous seasons of Monster have been much more reserved. As of August 28th, many have called for the posters to be revised, though Netflix is yet to respond.

So, a shaky start for Monster: The Ed Gein Story. Will this turn people away from the previously unstoppable series? We’ll have to wait and see.