Monster Season 3 Faces Further Backlash Over Anthony Perkins Psycho Storyline

Charlie Hunnam in character as Ed Gein in MonsterUnsurprisingly, the third season of Netflix’s controversial Monster anthology was faced with backlash from the get-go. Ryan Murphy’s latest creation depicts the life and crimes of real-life serial killer Ed Gein, following previous seasons’ equally-controversial dramatisations of Jeffrey Dahmer and the Menendez brothers’ crimes.Straight away, reviewers panned the Netflix show as being “utterly devoid of morality” and pandering to “viewers’ basest instincts” with its graphic and violent portrayal of Gein’s crimes.Needless to say, the controversy has also not exactly hindered the show becoming Netflix’s most-watched show in the UK at the time of writing.In addition to the suggestion that the show “sensationalises” the heinous crimes committed by Gein, many viewers have also taken issue with Monster’s subplot involving the depiction of Anthony Perkins, the real-life actor who appeared in Psycho as Norman Bates, a character partially inspired by Gein.Joey Pollari as Anthony Perkins and Tom Hollander as Alfred Hitchcock in Monster: The Ed Gein StoryAs well as taking viewers into the bowels of Gein’s depravity, Monster highlights that his crimes influenced many iconic horror films like Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Alfred Hitchcock’s aforementioned Psycho, depicting Perkins (played in the show by Joe Pollari) being cast as the infamous fictional killer Norman Bates by Alfred Hitchcock (as portrayed by Tom Hollander).However, viewers have pointed out that Monster makes some dangerous and “tasteless” links between Gein and Perkins, because of the latter’s decision to keep his sexuality private.“Ryan Murphy is so tasteless to me, man. If you’re going to do a Anthony Perkins biopic, do a Anthony Perkins biopic and give him the respect he deserves,” wrote one viewer. “But you comparing Ed Gein being a closeted killer to him being a closeted gay man is homophobia”. Another criticised the show for implying that “Anthony Perkins had a special connection and understanding of Gein because Gein being a murderer is just like being a closeted gay man”.Meanwhile others called Murphy’s Perkins subplot “disrespectful” and accused the show of “pushing” false narratives about Hitchcock casting Perkins in Psycho because of his sexuality and a perceived connection to Gein.Ryan Murphy is so tasteless to me man. If youre going to do a Anthony Perkins biopic, do a Anthony Perkins biopic and give him the respect he deserves. But you comparing Ed Gein being a closeted killer to him being a closeted gay man is homophobia,— Jane Doe (@AdhdBarbiee) October 3, 2025the Ryan Murphy Ed Gein show saying that Anthony Perkins had a special connection and understanding of Gein because Gein being a murderer is just like being a closeted gay man pic.twitter.com/iZnTtIegVt— 🖤🤍 (@rorschachisgay) October 7, 2025What the actual fuck was going through Ryan Murphy's head with this Anthony Perkins sideplot in the new Ed Gein show? So disrespectful & distateful.— Hannah (@Hannah_Connell) October 3, 2025Episode two of Ed Gein show pushing the narrative that Anthony Perkins was chosen to play Norman Bates because Alfred Hitchcock thought Perkins was like Gein because of Perkins’ sexuality… Ryan Murphy hell is hot pic.twitter.com/9wskfqSI09— laurynn (@planetlaurynn) October 4, 2025ryan murphy portraying hitchcock telling anthony perkins that he’s perfect for the norman bates role because he shares ed gein’s sexual deviancy because of his homosexuality… perkins family estate we ride at dawn— margs (@sosaneitsinsane) October 5, 2025i refuse to believe Anthony Perkins was walking around catatonicslly depressed telling people: "I am Ed Gein forever" lmao. we need to end the Murphy serial killer extended universe. it's made the true crime genre hit its nadir fr— Thomas Hobbs (@thobbsjourno) October 8, 2025I expected Ryan Murphy’s MONSTER: The Ed Gein Story to be trashy (liked the Dahmer season, the Menendez season was awful) but my god to have Anthony Perkins calling himself a “monster” in conversion therapy….? This has got to be the most ridiculous garbage I’ve ever seen— shay 🪦 (@astronomonov) October 4, 2025I'm sorry, but the constant comparisons between Ed Gein and Anthony Perkins were just distasteful and disrespectful.The real monster of this franchise is Ryan Murphy. https://t.co/NDDuwoRkF6pic.twitter.com/Wpxwv784DP— david lynch updates (@GoldCrucifix) October 8, 2025In another Monster scene, Perkins is seen undergoing so-called “conversion therapy”, while elsewhere Hollander’s Hitchcock muses about “urges”, “secrets” and a “sickness”, telling Perkins: “I had to cast you, Anthony. You’re like him.”While Psycho was loosely inspired by Gein, the writer of the novel on which the film was based has also stressed that he was interested by the idea of a solitary figure in a small town where everyone knows each other’s business. READ MORE:Thought The Stars Of Monster Season 3 Looked Familiar? Here's Where You've Seen The Cast BeforeCharlie Hunnam Hits Back At Claims That Monster Season 3 'Sensationalises' Ed Gein's CrimesWill Monster Get A Season 4 After The Ed Gein Story? Here's What We Know

Comments

Breaking news

Chilling moment woman ‘opens suitcase in Paris bar containing body of schoolgirl, 12, she raped and murdered’

Metro

Nutritionist reveals the healthiest things to order from your local Chinese takeaway

Dailymail

Now Strictly 'diva' Amber Davies ditches her management team amid fierce fan backlash over her arrival on the show - as Mail reveals her affair with former Premier League 'bad boy' football star

about 2 hours ago

Queen Camilla enjoys a day at the races as she attends British Champions Day at Ascot

Dailymail

Comments

Similar News

Dad scoops monster EuroMillions jackpot thanks to daughter's 'persistent' plea

Bo Bichette Gets Monster Contract Projection Blue Jays May Not Want to Meet

'Monster' uncle who abused his niece, 15, in hospital bed dies behind bars

Hundreds chant ‘you f***ing monsters’ in rare St Petersburg protest to overthrow Putin

Loch Ness Monster sighting as shape that 'could only be Nessie' seen in water

Loch Ness Monster sighting as shape that 'could only be Nessie' seen in water

Josef Fritzl denied parole despite dementia as incest monster still 'dangerous'

Josef Fritzl, 90, is too dangerous to be let out of prison because the incest monster who kept his daughter as a sex slave still suffers violent delusions, court rules as his freedom bid is thrown out

'I worked in Ian Watkins' monster jail, here's what it was really like'

'I saw Ian Watkins in Monster Mansion before his death and he looked different'

'I saw Lostprophets paedo Ian Watkins in Monster Mansion and he looked totally different'

Ian Watkins 'spent £1,000s' keeping himself alive in Monster Mansion before being killed

Desperate Reeves 'could combine monster Budget tax hikes with council tax overhaul' - amid fears of an 'exit charge' on fleeing millionaires

Monster Star Charlie Hunnam Opens Up About Emotional Visit To Ed Gein's Grave

Abusers deserve harsher sentences after child victim left broken by monster

Cowboys Stunned by Panthers Behind Rico Dowdle&#039;s Monster Game

Jeremy Clarkson reveals he was rushed to hospital for 'urgent' medical treatment just hours after he branded the NHS a 'creaking old monster'

Jeremy Clarkson rushed to hospital days after branding NHS a 'monster' in column

Jeremy Clarkson rushed to hospital in 'painful' ordeal days after calling NHS a 'monster'

Why white wine turns some women into monsters - and triggers 'hangxiety' the next day

Breaking news

Chilling moment woman ‘opens suitcase in Paris bar containing body of schoolgirl, 12, she raped and murdered’

New clue in search for boys aged 16 and 17 who went missing over three weeks ago

Border Force crews in English Channel to ditch patrols in strike over pay

US Embassy issues warning to Americans in Trinidad and Tobago as tensions with Venezuela escalate

New grisly details emerge about NYC teen who allegedly beheaded mom’s boyfriend, according to reports

Brexit impact on UK economy ‘negative for foreseeable future,’ Bailey says

Tutankhamun’s tomb at risk of collapse in most fragile state since its discovery 100 years ago

Yemen's Houthi rebels raid a UN facility but all staff are reported safe

Netanyahu pours cold water on claims that Gaza’s Rafah crossing will reopen

Developing Rosebank oil field ‘pure climate vandalism’, Scottish Green insists

Green MSPs banned from backing budget until action seen on bus public ownership

Woman fell for cruel love scam from Somali doctor who made her do blood oath

Boy goes missing from Dundee industrial estate as cops launch probe

Socialite Lady Annabel Goldsmith remembered as 'irreplaceable' after death

Voting begins over future of Oxford Union president-elect after Charlie Kirk comment

Prince Andrew insisted on 'gag order' to stop allegations spoiling Queen's Platinum Jubilee, memoir claims

Strictly's Amber Davies' stroppy demands over £1million Love Island relationship

Ruth Langsford 'mortified' after sharing intimate picture she insisted 'wasn't Eamonn'

Spice Girl's desperate plea to Keir Starmer after he made promise to her

Inside Prince Harry's real feelings on palace hypocrisy over Andrew accusations

David Lammy says Vladimir Putin wants Nigel Farage to divide Europe

'Doctors cut off son's bandages and my heart cracked - his body had been ripped apart'

Prince Andrew titles loss: What former Duke of York has been accused of

Revealed: Afghan TikTokker who threatened to murder Nigel Farage is a career criminal who was on the run from police in Sweden for sexually abusing girl, 15, when he arrived in the UK on a small boat

Lauryn Goodman displays her figure in a blue bikini during Marbella holiday with her two children Kairo, 5, and Kinara, 2, after date with tennis star Jack Draper

PETER HITCHENS: It's Left-wingers who should worship Maggie. She's no idol for REAL conservatives

Aston Villa, council and police ALL face legal action over decision to ban Israeli football fans

The world's best cruise ports (and the ones to avoid)... as revealed by our expert who has been on 125 sailings and called at hundreds of destinations

Our ultimate guide to the pros and cons of prostate cancer screening: We reveal why some doctors are opposed to mass testing, who SHOULD ask for a check and the truth about the risks

DAN HODGES: This is who Cabinet ministers have told me is REALLY to blame for Labour's China crisis... and some Foreign Office officials are even calling her the 'Dragon Lady'

ALEXANDRA SHULMAN'S NOTEBOOK: After cancer, Kate's house move really is a new start

Ricky Hatton's son Campbell reveals he cannot bear to step into house where his boxing legend father was found hanging

Ryan Thomas 'down to last £1' in business account months after former Coronation Street star's ITV prime time show was axed

Strictly star Amber Davies passionately defends her place on the show despite dance training - after rising from working class background to conquer musical theatre

DAPHNE BARAK: How I delivered the final, fatal blow to Andrew's fast-sinking reputation... and why Palace is right to still be deeply concerned

Nutritionist reveals the healthiest things to order from your local Chinese takeaway

Major UK supermarket urgently recalls £3.99 steaks after 'do not eat' warning

I'm A Celebrity line-up 'revealed' as EastEnders star Shona McGarty is the latest star rumoured to be braving the jungle

Now Strictly 'diva' Amber Davies ditches her management team amid fierce fan backlash over her arrival on the show - as Mail reveals her affair with former Premier League 'bad boy' football star

Queen Camilla enjoys a day at the races as she attends British Champions Day at Ascot

Lady Annabel Goldsmith dies aged 91

Tory MP reports deepfake defection video to police

Prince Andrew ‘gagged Virginia Giuffre to protect Queen’s jubilee year’

New blood test for 50 cancers ‘could make substantial difference to outcomes’

Ten injured after balcony collapses near University of Cincinnati as students were celebrating end of exams

Developing Rosebank oil field ‘pure climate vandalism’, Scottish Green insists

Jewish film festival postponed after cinemas ‘refuse to host events’

Police launch investigation after bar worker, 19, found dead in Manchester flat

US jury issues $20M verdict against French bank BNP Paribas over Sudanese atrocities

Reform’s newest MP Danny Kruger: ‘On a personal level I deeply regret rejecting the Tory party’

Lady Annabel Goldsmith death: Socialite who gave her name to London nightclub dies, aged 91

Skeletal woman 'locked in bedroom for 27 years' utters three chilling words

School staff member dies 'after being kicked in chest by pupil'

Scots mum's blurry vision during pregnancy uncovered as serious brain condition

Police probe new allegation against Scots Tinder rapist who faked own death

Portugal set for burka ban

Protesters in Germany demand removal of Madeleine McCann suspect

Cowboys Stunned by Panthers Behind Rico Dowdle's Monster Game