7 serial killer drama shows to watch if you liked Netflix's Monster: The Ed Gein Story

In Plain Sight | Image Source: ITV
In Plain Sight | Image Source: ITV

Netflix's Monster: The Ed Gein Story has reignited conversations about some of the darkest chapters in true crime history. What the series paints is a picture of Ed Gein and his horrendous acts and, on the other hand, an exploration of how an ordinary man from a quiet town could have committed crimes that became inspiration for Horror classics such as Psycho and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Series.

If that chilling series left you intrigued, perhaps you are on the lookout for some shows that could successfully balance suspense against psychological gravitas. What sets Monster apart from other productions is that the show never glamorizes violence. Instead, it works to engross you in its atmosphere and plots that delve into themes of psychology and social context.

Insofar as there are many similar sets available, from historically oriented true crime shows to fictional ventures into the minds of killers, these are the shows anyone with a fascination for the dark side of human nature must watch.


7 serial killer drama shows to watch if you liked Netflix's Monster: The Ed Gein Story

1. Mindhunter

Mindhunter | Image Source: Netflix
Mindhunter | Image Source: Netflix

If you liked Monster: The Ed Gein Story, then Mindhunter is a must-see. Based in the late 1970s, this Netflix drama tracks FBI agents creating criminal profiling methods by interviewing actual killers such as Ed Kemper. Like Monster: The Ed Gein Story, it doesn't depend on gore but goes deep into psychology and gruesome discussions.

The show illustrates how detectives attempted to grasp the minds of serial murderers years before it became standard procedure. Despite lasting only two seasons, fans refer to it as one of Netflix's greatest brainy true crime dramas, ideal for fans of psychological complexity.


2. The Fall

The Fall | Image Source: BBC Two
The Fall | Image Source: BBC Two

The Fall will appeal to Monster: The Ed Gein Story fans because it also examines the way horror can lie behind familiar faces. A family man turns out to be a serial killer in secret, while Gillian Anderson's detective attempts to track him down. The cat-and-mouse suspense is so taut, akin to the unnerving atmosphere in Monster: The Ed Gein Story.

What sets The Fall apart is its realistic depiction of the way dangerous individuals can appear ordinary to the world. The show has been lauded for its tense pacing and psychological complexity, providing a slow burn but satisfying view.


3. Dark Angel

Dark Angel | Image Source: ITV
Dark Angel | Image Source: ITV

If Monster: The Ed Gein Story intrigued you with its true-story background, then Dark Angel presents an equally haunting story. It's based on Mary Ann Cotton, the first recorded female serial killer in Britain, who murdered her relatives for financial gain during the 1800s. Similar to Monster: The Ed Gein Story, this mini-series mingles crime with history, illustrating that a murderer lived among the general populace and wasn't suspected for years.

Joanne Froggatt delivers a top-notch performance, and the story is frightening but interesting. What makes the series different is its Victorian setting, showing that serial killers aren't only contemporary bogeymen but actually occurred throughout history.


4. Rillington Place

Rillington Place | Image Source: BBC One
Rillington Place | Image Source: BBC One

Monster: The Ed Gein Story fans will find Rillington Place just as disturbing. Set in 1940s London and based on the true events of John Christie's crimes, the drama follows how he killed several women by pretending to be a decent neighbor. Similar to Monster: The Ed Gein Story, it concentrates on secrecy, manipulation, and how bad things can lurk in plain sight.

Tim Roth gives a chilling performance as Christie, and the show is both terrifying and realistic. The production also covers the infamous wrongful execution of Timothy Evans, putting another level of injustice into the show. It's a dark but gripping three-part mini-series.


5. In Plain Sight

In Plain Sight | Image Source: ITV
In Plain Sight | Image Source: ITV

In Plain Sight is ideal for those who enjoyed Monster: The Ed Gein Story since it features another actual mid-century killer. In Plain Sight chronicles the life of Peter Manuel, a.k.a. "The Beast of Birkenshaw," who terrorized Scotland during the 1950s. Similar to Monster: The Ed Gein Story, it demonstrates that a small community was terrorized by crimes no one anticipated.

The series also tracks Detective William Muncie, who had a personal struggle with Manuel, so it's not just a crime show. It's a compelling examination of traditional police work before advanced forensics reformed the process for catching killers.


6. Four Lives

Four Lives | Image Source: BBC One
Four Lives | Image Source: BBC One

One of the reasons Monster: The Ed Gein Story worked is that it didn't portray the killer in glamorous terms. Four Lives does the same. From the killings of Stephen Port in London during 2014 and 2015, it focuses on the fight for justice by the families, not the life of the murderer. Sheridan Smith gives an emotional portrayal of a bereaved mother who fights to be heard, unveiling prejudices and police mishaps that made it possible for Port's crimes to go unpunished.

What's unique is its social relevance; it's not just a crime story but also a reminder of how institutions can fail victims. It's powerful, emotional, and unforgettable.


7. Dexter

Dexter | Image Source: Showtime
Dexter | Image Source: Showtime

If Monster: The Ed Gein Story left you questioning the psychology of killers, Dexter whisks that curiosity in a great but fictional, terrific direction. Dexter Morgan is played by Michael C. Hall, a forensic analyst in Miami with the habit of secretly assassinating other criminals who slip through justice's hands. Unlike the grim reality of Ed Gein, Dexter constructs a moral dilemma where viewers cheer for a murderer who believes he's doing good.

What makes it stand out is its distinctive mix of dark humor, psychological tension, and suspense. With its spin-off, Dexter: New Blood, the show continues to ask questions of morality, family, and what it means to be human.


Monster: The Ed Gein Story brings back the chilling notion that scary killers are normally the ones who look very ordinary but hide unimaginable darkness within. All the shows resemble that eerie feel, whether telling true stories like Rillington Place and Four Lives or untrue ones like Dexter.

All of them show a different slant, with some leaning on tracking criminals, others on the criminals themselves, and yet more on the victims left in the wake of crime. These, in combination, lend to the very well-known idea of how human psychology and crime remain a strong source for television storytelling.

Edited by Sroban Ghosh