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You've likely seen the Hitchcock classic, The Silence of the Lambs, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Maybe you've even read the original novels that served as the basis for the first two films. Now it's time to encounter the individual behind the Bates Motel owner, the serial killer, and the chainsaw-wielding villain. The infamous Ed Gein!

The initial installments of this anthology series centered around Jeffrey Dahmer – an individual possessing widespread notoriety. Then came the Menendez brothers – a somewhat specialized story for dedicated true crime fans. Now the spotlight turns to the Butcher of Plainfield. While he may lack the brand recognition of Dahmer, Bundy, or Gacy, and only killed two people, his grave desecrations and macabre artistry with the deceased have made a profound impact. To this day, any film or show featuring dismembered remains, flayed skin, or skin-based artifacts likely draws inspiration to his actions from many decades past.

A Tone of Flippancy

Do I sound flippant? This appears to be the deliberate approach of the production team. Rarely have I seen a television series that lingers so gleefully on the most heinous acts an individual – and mankind – can commit. This includes a substantial narrative strand devoted to the horrors of the Third Reich, presented with little to no justification.

Structural and Stylistic Strengths

Structurally and stylistically, the series excels. The rhythm is well-maintained, and the skillful blending of different timelines is executed brilliantly. Viewers witness Charlie Hunnam as the killer in action – the murders, tomb violations, and assembling his collection. Simultaneously, the contemporary storyline follows Alfred Hitchcock, Robert Bloch, and Anthony Perkins as they develop Psycho from Bloch's Gein-inspired novel. The blending of the real – Gein's religious mother and his fixation with women resembling her – and fictionalized scenes – fetishistic depictions of Ilse Koch and Nazi party scenes – is handled with technical skill.

A Critical Shortcoming

The missing element, and unforgivably so, is any moral dimension or meaningful analysis to offset the lingering, loving shots of Gein's depraved acts. The show presents his rich inner world and frames him as a man at the mercy of his controlling parent and a morbidly fascinated girlfriend. The underlying suggestion seems to be: What is a poor, schizophrenic guy to do? In one scene, the novelist speculates that without seeing certain images, Gein would have remained an unremarkable local.

A Departure from Precedent

One might contend that a show from this stable – renowned for glossy, high-camp style – is an unlikely source for deep psychological exploration. However, earlier series like the OJ Simpson trial drama offered brilliant commentary on media and justice. The Assassination of Gianni Versace delved into celebrity and society. Impeachment scrutinized systemic sexism. So it can be done, and Murphy has done it.

The Final Verdict

But not here. The Ed Gein Story feels like a commercialization of an underexploited true crime story. It asks for empathy for the individual responsible without providing understanding into his transformation. Beyond the simplistic "devout parent" reasoning, there is little effort to understand the creation or prevent future cases. This is merely voyeuristic pandering to the basest instincts of viewers. The Nazi scenes do have lovely lighting, admittedly.