Why does Lizzie Borden remain such an enduring object of fascination? More than 130 years after she was acquitted of murdering her father and stepmother, the suspected killer continues to inspire books, films, television projects, and endless true-crime speculation. “Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story” now offers its own interpretation of the woman many people know primarily through a macabre nursery rhyme.
The latest installment of Netflix’s anthology series comes from creator Ian Brennan, who executive produces alongside Ryan Murphy. It also marks the franchise’s first season built around a female central figure, with Ella Beatty stepping into the title role.
Beatty, who recently appeared opposite Rose Byrne in “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” found the story’s examination of gender and suppressed anger strikingly contemporary despite its 1890s setting.
“This season gives us our first female Monster and delves into female rage and repression, which I’ve found to feel strikingly relevant,” Beatty told Netflix’s Tudum.
Vicky Krieps, Charlie Hunnam, and Rebecca Hall also star. Hunnam previously led the anthology’s third season as serial killer Ed Gein. The ensemble additionally includes Billie Lourd, Joey Pollari, Sarah Paulson, and Jessica Barden.
Here’s the official synopsis:
“When the repressed daughter of a wealthy New England family and her rebellious maid find themselves trapped in a house built on humiliation and cruelty, they escape into a fantasy of sex, power, and revenge. The gruesome unsolved murders that follow don’t just shock the world—they give birth to an icon who refuses to live imprisoned in a cage, choosing instead to forge her own legend: shocking, monstrous, and gloriously free.”
Max Winkler and Sarah Adina Smith direct episodes of “Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.” The series premieres September 17 on Netflix. Watch the trailer below.
