Ryan Murphy's 'Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story' Premieres on Netflix
The latest installment in the anthology series explores the life of the accused axe murderer, featuring Ella Beatty in the lead role.
The highly anticipated fourth season of Ryan Murphy's "Monster" anthology series, titled "Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story," has arrived on Netflix today, September 17. This season marks the first time the series focuses on a female perpetrator, with Ella Beatty taking on the role of Lizzie Borden.
The series delves into the infamous 1892 murders of Borden's father and stepmother, who were found brutally bludgeoned to death. The official synopsis from Netflix describes the season as an exploration of "the repressed daughter of a wealthy New England family and her rebellious maid" who "find themselves trapped in a house built on humiliation and cruelty." It continues, "they escape into a fantasy of sex, power, and revenge." The narrative promises to examine the gruesome unsolved murders that not only shocked the public but also gave birth to an icon who defied societal constraints.
Ella Beatty, known for her role in "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans," leads the cast as Lizzie Borden. She is joined by Vicky Krieps, who plays a dual role as Bridget Sullivan, the Borden family's housemaid, and Elizabeth Báthory, a figure associated with serial killing. Charlie Hunnam, who previously portrayed Ed Gein in Season 3, returns to the "Monster" universe in a new capacity as Lizzie's father, Andrew Borden. Rebecca Hall appears as Abby Borden, Andrew's second wife and Lizzie's stepmother.
Murphy's frequent collaborators Sarah Paulson and Billie Lourd are also part of the ensemble, playing serial killer Aileen Wuornos and Lizzie's older sister Emma Borden, respectively. The cast is further rounded out by Jessica Barden, Joey Pollari, and Oliver Spenceman.
Past seasons of "Monster" have chronicled the lives of notorious figures such as Jeffrey Dahmer, Erik and Lyle Menendez, and Ed Gein. "Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story" offers eight new episodes, continuing the series' tradition of dissecting complex criminal narratives and the figures behind them.
While the series is a Netflix exclusive, a promotional offer through DIRECTV allows new subscribers to stream Netflix content, including "Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story," for free for one year with the purchase of a qualifying genre pack and Gemini device.