"Monster: The Ed Gein Story" received mixed to negative reviews overall. Critics describe it as an overly graphic and unfocused retelling of Ed Gein's life and crimes. The series is noted for its graphic content but criticized for a lack of narrative cohesion and depth in character development. Charlie Hunnam's portrayal of Gein is seen as intense but inconsistent, with the writing oscillating between dark somberness and campiness by the end of the series. Reviewers mention that the show tries to be ambitious by exploring how Ed Gein’s story influenced popular culture's depiction of killers, but it fails to fully achieve this thematic goal, focusing too much on gruesome details instead. The narrative includes some fabricated subplots and copycat killers, which detracts from factual storytelling. The show's depiction of Ed Gein's psychological and familial issues, especially his relationship with his domineering mother, is central but not fully satisfying as a human exploration. Some critics find the series simultaneously condemning the audience’s fascination with horror while indulging their morbid curiosity. Performances from supporting cast like Laurie Metcalf and Vicky Krieps are noted but the series struggles with tonal inconsistencies and tends to fetishize certain elements that seem irrelevant to the main story. In summary, "Monster: The Ed Gein Story" is seen as a disturbing but flawed work that attempts to do more than just recount crimes, yet ends up undermining itself with graphic excess, narrative fragmentation, and thematic confusion.
