Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story – Review | Netflix

MONSTER: THE LIZZIE BORDEN STORY on Netflix is the latest Ryan Murphy production in the true-crime horror anthology series. While I have liked some more than others, this one is not for me. Sticking to facts has never been a focus for this anthology, but now it’s gone completely off the rails. Read our Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story series review here!

MONSTER: THE LIZZIE BORDEN STORY is out on Netflix now. Right off the bat, I am not a fan of the title. This is not the story of Lizzie Borden. Virtually any and every detail from the true crime case has been changed. I know Ryan Murphy doesn’t shy away from changed details, and that this Monster anthology is a work of fiction. However, in this case more than ever, I would prefer a different (more telling) title for the show.

I cannot and will not blame any of the actors, who are absolutely amazing in delivering the portrayals they’re asked to. And yet, I have to say that the rating of this Netflix series is thanks only to the cast. The 2 (in our 2 out of 5 rating) goes specifically to Rebecca Hall and Sarah Paulson. I could watch them all day long as Lizzie’s stepmom, Abby, and the real-life convicted serial killer, Aileen Wuornos, respectively.

The rest, I did not care much for. Not at all.

Continue reading our Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story series review below. All 8 episodes are on Netflix now.

Very loosely inspired by a true story

Again, it should come as no surprise that Ryan Murphy’s true-crime production isn’t based on facts. And yet, with Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, I feel he has moved so far away from any and every fact of the case that it ruined the show for me. There was a woman (not a girl) named Lizzie Borden, and her stepmother and father were murdered with an ax.

These are the only facts of the true-crime case that you’ll see in this Netflix series.

ANOTHER LIZZIE BORDEN STORY

Check out the 2018 Shudder movie Lizzie about Lizzie Borden >

And again, Lizzie was not a girl but a 32-year-old woman when the murders happened, so even that detail is off. Also, the housemaid was 25-years-old, so again there are some glaring changes. And I know, I know, that the details of the case are not the point of this anthology, but they should be. At least to some point.

Also, Lizzie’s dad married Abby three years after the death of his wife. Not just weeks later.

All of these “details” have been altered to create a completely different story. And I know Ryan Murphy has often been called out for not being able to write queer women. I don’t necessarily subscribe to this notion, as I think he did a solid job in Ratched. Also, I feel confident that Sarah Paulson can push back if she feels something is completely off.

Sarah Paulson and Rebecca Hall shine

As was the case with the previous Monster installment, which focused on Ed Gein, Ryan Murphy has once again opted to tie a modern-day serial killer in with this much older title character. In Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, the connection is made to Aileen Wuornos, which I can understand. I am not a fan of just how heavy-handed this connection is made. It comes in the opening of episode 4, but that’s not my biggest issue with this production.

Honestly, every scene focused on Aileen was my favorite part of this installment.

Ironically, before Ryan Murphy created his Netflix Monster anthology, the movie of the same title was the story of Aileen Wuornos. A movie that resulted in Charlize Theron winning an Academy Award for her portrayal of Aileen. And yes, I do think Sarah Paulson could also win for portraying Aileen in this Netflix anthology. She probably won’t because this isn’t a good production overall. However, she does deliver an excellent portrayal.

DO CHECK OUT…

The Netflix documentary Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers – it’s just heartbreaking >

If you’ve watched the documentary Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers, then you’ll recognize everything from the facial expression to her walk and the way she flips and touches her hair. And if you haven’t watched it, then please do. It’s your best shot at actually getting to know Aileen and hearing how she experienced everything. And yes, even the speech pattern of Aileen has been matched gorgeously by Sarah Paulson.

And yes, I do think Sarah Paulson is the best thing in this season of Monster.

However, Rebecca Hall does come close in her portrayal of Lizzie’s stepmother. She has the most amazing scenes and delivers a performance that is so kitsch and bordering on going too far, but never does. Also, let’s be honest, she has the best lines and some amazing zingers.

Again, I have nothing bad to say about anyone else in the cast, but the way their characters are written just rubbed me the wrong way.

Watch Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story on Netflix now

Monster is an Emmy-winning anthology series, but I don’t think this season will get many awards. Then again, the two actors mentioned above could be contenders. It’s a creation by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, who are now on their fourth installment. Overall, my favorite was their first, which focused on Jeffrey Dahmer. It was much more fact-based and focused. Still a work of fiction, but nowhere near as much as now.

These past two seasons have turned their title “Monster” into a source of inspiration for those who would come later. And also, those who came before, as is the case in The Lizzie Borden story, as it was in The Ed Gein Story.

YOU MIGHT LIKE…

Our review of the first installment of the Monster anthology >

For the record, Lizzie Borden (as I’m sure many or most will know) was never convicted of the murder of Andrew and Abby Borden (Charlie Hunnam and Rebecca Hall). In the aftermath, many stories (some more steamy fantasy-based than fact-focused) have virtually turned it into a fact that she did murder them. Most argue it was done at the suggestion of (or in cooperation with) the maid. A woman she was believed to have some sort of affair with.

These are the two characters portrayed by Ella Beatty and Vicky Krieps, respectively. Though, as already covered, the ages of the real people mean that the casting should be opposite. As it was in Lizzie, starring Chloë Sevigny and Kristen Stewart. In any case, as much as many perceive it as fact today, it really isn’t. Instead, it’s a story repeated so many times that it now feels true. It was just never confirmed or proven.

To be fair, Ella Beatty has also stated that she went through “all the source material about the real person’s life,” and then she had to “translate that into the very fictionalized version of the woman that we created for the show”. So while every actor in the series recognizes that this is very fictionalized, I don’t feel this is at all clear to the audience.

Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is streaming globally on Netflix from September 17, 2026.

Details

Creators: Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan
Cast: Ella Beatty, Charlie Hunnam, Vicky Krieps, Rebecca Hall, Billie Lourd, Jessica Barden, Sarah Paulson, Joey Pollari