The Monster of Florence – Series Review | Netflix

THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE on Netflix is an Italian miniseries (org. title: Il mostro) about the infamous real-life serial killer. With just four hour-long episodes, it’s a quick watch, and one that offers several theories. Read our full The Monster of Florence series review here!

THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE is a new Netflix miniseries from Italy (org. title: Il mostro). It’s a true crime series as it focuses on the real serial killer from the famous Italian town. In many ways, this is the Zodiac of Italy as the case hasn’t officially been solved – though even this series ends with a huge hint at who most believe was the killer.

Across the four episodes in this Netflix miniseries, you’ll see several theories play out as the police investigate. This means there will be some repetition, but not too much. We simply see the same event (including two of the murders) from several perspectives. It’s a fascinating way to bring us to the same struggles the police have dealt with.

All four episodes were watched (or rather, binge-watched) for this review. I highly recommend you do the same. This limited series only gets better the further along it gets.

Continue reading our The Monster of Florence series review below. Find all four episodes on Netflix from October 22, 2025.

This is the story of the murders

Instead of focusing on catching the serial killer, The Monster of Florence is the story of the murders. In part, this is the case because the serial killer has never been caught. However, it’s also a way to look at suspects and focus on the victims. Something I always applaud – giving space to the victims, I mean.

The Monster of Florence committed eight double murders (couples were always targeted) over the course of 17 years. The weapon was always the same, a .22 caliber Beretta, as were the circumstances: Young couples sitting in cars. And yes, this will sound familiar to many, as this approach was also used by the serial killer known as the Son of Sam.

For “Il mostro”, the investigation was made extremely difficult for many reasons. One of them being that someone confessed to the first double murder. However, the killings continued and this originally convicted man changed his story constantly.

Focusing on several possible “monsters”

The Monster of Florence miniseries focuses on a few of the possible monsters who have been investigated over the years. We see the murders from their point of view, but “only” in the sense that we’re meant to understand why these men were suspects.

And also, how they could have gotten away with it for so long. A huge problem for the police was that whenever someone was officially made a suspect and arrested, a new murder would happen. Was it a copycat or the real killer making a statement?!

The murders themselves, when shown, are depicted as what they were: Meaningless and blunt violence perpetrated by a coward who hid in the dark and attacked couples. Young people who minded their own business, were focused on each other, and had no way to defend themselves.

The serial killer who inspired Hannibal Lecter

The real-life Monster of Florence is a serial killer who managed to inspire authors in the same way that Ed Gein did. However, this Netflix series doesn’t go into that in the way that Monster did. Still, I wanted to mention this as it is well-known that Thomas Harris built part of Hannibal Lecter on this real-life serial killer.

In terms of real-life serial killers, there has even been speculation that Il Mostro could be connected to the Zodiac. Yes, as in the infamous and never-caught Zodiac serial killer known from numerous movies (most prominently David Fincher’s 2007 movie) and TV shows like Netflix’s own Mindhunter.

Obviously, this connection is not something everyone believes, far from it, but it has still become part of the lore of The Monster of Florence. You can read up on it via the Wikipedia page about “Il mostro” here, which can lead you further down the proverbial rabbit hole, if you’re curious.

Watch The Monster of Florence on Netflix

Stefano Sollima (Adagio) is the director of all four episodes. He also created the Netflix series alongside Leonardo Fasoli (ZeroZeroZero). The series premiered (out of competition) at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, which seems only right.

The Monster of Florence premieres on Netflix on the 10th anniversary of the streaming service being available in Italy.

Personally, I was very pleased that the focus remained on the victims. Not to show us the brutal murders, but show us that these victims were real people with full and happy (for the most part) lives before their identities were reduced to “murder victim”.

As stated by the creator and director of this Netflix series: “Perhaps not to resolve, not to understand, but to remember. A way to stand beside those who remained there, forever in the night, and say: You have not been forgotten”.

This approach alone is enough reason for me to recommend it, but it is also a very intense and fascinating look at one of the most infamous and brutal serial killers.

The Monster of Florence (org. title: Il mostro) is out on Netflix from October 22, 2025.

Details

Creators: Leonardo Fasoli & Stefano Sollima
Director: Stefano Sollima
Cast: Marco Bullitta, Valentino Mannias, Francesca Olia, Liliana Bottone, Giacomo Fadda, Antonio Tintis, Giordano Mannu