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You're probably familiar with the Hitchcock classic, the iconic thriller, and the horror staple. Perhaps you've also explored the original novels that inspired the first two films. Now it's time to meet the man who inspired Norman Bates, Buffalo Bill, and Leatherface. The infamous Ed Gein!

The initial installments of the series in question focused on Jeffrey Dahmer – a name with widespread notoriety. This was followed by the sibling duo – a more niche case for enthusiasts of the genre. Attention now shifts to the Plainfield Ghoul. While he may lack the brand recognition 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 film or show featuring dismembered remains, removed epidermis, or items crafted from human tissue probably owes a debt to Gein's exploits from over 70 years ago.

A Tone of Flippancy

Is my tone too casual? It's clearly the deliberate approach of the creators. It's uncommon to witness a television series that lingers so gleefully on the worst depredations a person – and humanity – can commit. This extends to a substantial narrative strand devoted to Nazi atrocities, shown with minimal moral context.

Structural and Stylistic Strengths

In terms of construction and style, the show is impressive. The rhythm is well-maintained, and the clever interweaving of past and present is executed brilliantly. Viewers witness the actor as the killer in action – the murders, grave robberies, and assembling his collection. In parallel, the contemporary storyline follows the creative minds as they craft the iconic film from the literary source. The blending of the real – his devout parent and his obsession with female doppelgangers – and the unreal – fetishistic depictions of the Buchenwald criminal and Nazi party scenes – is handled with technical skill.

The Glaring Omission

The missing element, and unforgivably so, is ethical commentary or meaningful analysis to offset the lingering, loving shots of his immoral deeds. The series portrays his rich inner world and frames him as a helpless individual of his domineering mother and an accomplice with dark interests. The implied message seems to be: How could a mentally ill man resist? During a key moment, the novelist speculates that without seeing certain images, Gein would have remained an unremarkable local.

A Departure from Precedent

One might contend that a Ryan Murphy production – known for sleek, exaggerated aesthetics – is the wrong place for deep psychological exploration. However, earlier series like The People v OJ Simpson offered brilliant commentary on the press and the legal system. The Assassination of Gianni Versace explored fame and culture. Impeachment examined embedded misogyny. Thus, it is possible, and Murphy has done it.

The Final Verdict

Yet not in this case. The Ed Gein Story feels like a commercialization 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 little effort to comprehend the origins or avert similar tragedies. This is merely gratuitous spectacle to the basest instincts of viewers. The wartime sequences do have excellent cinematography, admittedly.