Overview

• Monster: The Ed Gein Story has become one of Netflix’s most-watched titles worldwide, with Charlie Hunnam in the lead role.
• Renowned psychiatrist Paul E. Mullen says some offenders may have known of Gein but that direct imitation is uncertain.
• Mullen adds that preventing a case like Gein’s would likely have been difficult and warns that immersive media can blur reality for vulnerable people.
• Fact-checkers note the series blends fact with invention, including dramatized interactions and influence that lack supporting evidence.
• Plainfield, Wisconsin officials ask visitors drawn by the show to respect private property and highlight the town’s broader identity, promoting a family event on October 18.