Netflix has released a first look at Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, the newest addition to Ryan Murphy’s true-crime anthology. The series is set to premiere on September 17, offering a dark reimagining of the infamous New England killer.
The Fourth Installment of Ryan Murphy’s Monster Anthology
The Monster franchise is returning to Netflix with its fourth and most ambitious entry to date. As reported by the source, this installment moves the anthology into new territory by focusing on the psychological profiles of female killers.. This fourth installment represents a significant expansion of the anthology's thematic reach.
By centering the narrative on the legend of Lizzie Borden, Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan are leaning into the "bloody legend" that has defined the case for over a century. This move follows a pattern of high-profile true-crime dramatizations that prioritize the "monstrous" nature of historical figures to drive viewership.
Ella Beatty and Rebecca Hall Lead the New England Cast
The upcoming series features a high-profile cast, including Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden, Rebecca Hall as Abby Borden, and Vicky Krieps as Maggie Sullivan . According to the report, the plot follows a repressed daughter of a wealthy New England family and her rebellious maid as they navigate a household defined by humiliation and cruelty.
The teaser suggests that the characters will eventually escape their restrictive circumstances through a "fantasy of sex, power, and revenge." This psychological angle aims to transform the historical figure of Lizzie Borden into a cultural icon who is "shocking, monstrous, and gloriously free," rather than just a victim of circumstance.
A Spotlight on the 2002 Execution of Belle Gunness
Netflix is expanding the scope of this season beyond the Borden household to include other notorious female criminals. The report notes that the seeries will highlight Belle Gunness, a woman who was executed in 2002 after being sentenced to death for six murders.
This inclusion of Belle Gunness suggests that the Monster series is evolving into a broader examination of female criminality throughout history. By linking the 19th-century Lizzie Borden case with the more modern execution of Gunness, the show aims to explore how different eras perceive female violence and the "monstrous" label.
The Unsolved Mystery of the Lizzie Borden Axe Murders
While the teaser promises a "darker take," several specific details regarding the show's historical accuracy remain unverified.. It is currently unknown how the production will balance the "unsolved" nature of the original crimes with the highly dramatized "fantasy" elements mentioned in the teaser.
Furthermore, the source does not clarify if the Belle Gunness segment will be part of the same narrative arc as the Lizzie Borden story or if they will be treated as separate vignettes. Viewers are left wondering how much of the "rebellion" depicted is rooted in historical record versus Ryan Murphy's signature stylistic flourishes, and whether the show will provide new insights into the unsolved murders.
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