Category Archives: Alfred Hitchcock

Monster Season 3 Faces Further Backlash Over Anthony Perkins Psycho Storyline

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Unsurprisingly, 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 Story
Joey Pollari as Anthony Perkins and Tom Hollander as Alfred Hitchcock in Monster: The Ed Gein Story

As 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.

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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, 2025

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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, 2025

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the 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, 2025

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the 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, 2025