The next Monster will be even more gruesome
And this time it's a woman
While Charlie Hunnam as Ed Gein continues to turn stomachs, the creators are already focusing on the next ‘Monster’. After three seasons full of male murderers, the focus is now for the first time on a woman: Lizzie Borden. Her story has grown into one of the biggest murder mysteries the US has ever known. We'll take you along.
Who was Lizzie Borden?
Lizzie Andrew Borden was born on July 19, 1860, in Fall River, Massachusetts. She lived with her father Andrew, mother Sarah, and older sister Emma. When Lizzie was two, her mother passed away; her father remarried three years later to Abby. Lizzie had a good reputation and was known for her charitable work. But behind closed doors, things were a lot less pleasant. Andrew Borden was a grumpy man who was very stingy with his money. Lizzie and Emma often clashed with him and their stepmother, and the arguments often revolved around their father's considerable fortune.
Lizzie's actions and conviction
On the morning of August 4, 1892, Andrew Borden returned from business and decided to take a nap on the couch. Around 11:15, he was found dead by Lizzie, according to her own statement. He had been struck multiple times with a sharp object. Not long after, Abby was also found upstairs; she was in worse shape than her husband. No weapon was found, but an axe in the basement raised many questions.
The story of the murders spread rapidly through Fall River, and soon there was rampant speculation about the perpetrator. It ultimately took almost a year before Lizzie was arrested. She allegedly tried to buy poison the day before the murders and burned a dress a few days later. Perhaps to erase traces? Her statements about how she could be home but saw or heard nothing were vague. Yet, all this proved not to be enough. There was too little direct evidence, and Lizzie was acquitted. After that, no suspect was ever identified; in fact, the case remains unsolved to this day.
Her later life
Despite being acquitted, Lizzie could never truly return to her ‘old life’. She was completely ostracized by the residents of Fall River but decided to stay anyway. Together with her sister, she bought a house they named Maplecroft. Lizzie became interested in theater and regularly invited large groups of actors to parties at her home. This ultimately led to Emma's departure and the loss of contact between the sisters. In 1927, Lizzie died at the age of 66 from pneumonia. She was buried in the family grave, next to her parents.
The Lizzie Borden house
The murders and the subsequent trial received significant media attention. Because the case remains unsolved, a mystery still surrounds it; especially among true crime fans. Those who really want to dive into the world of Lizzie Borden can do so in a rather special place: the house where the murders took place. Today, the house is used for tours and, perhaps even more shockingly, as a B&B. True enthusiasts can also buy the Lizzie Borden board game for their trip; a sort of Cluedo, but centered around this real case. Watching crime documentaries, films, or series is one thing, but sleeping in the actual house? That might be a step too far... but yes, it is possible if you want. Is that too much? At the Fall River Historical Society, you will find an exhibition about the case; the real axe is said to be there too. Also bizarre, right?
The predecessors of Monster
Just like with Ed Gein, the creators of ‘Monster’ were not the first to be inspired by Lizzie Borden's story. Various films and series about the case had already been made earlier:
· ‘The Legend of Lizzie Borden’ (1975) – The mystery film was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Television Film and received five Emmy nominations; two of which were actually won.
· ‘The Curse of Lizzie Borden’ (2006) – The film tells the story of a woman who works in a Lizzie Borden museum and becomes a serial killer herself. In 2008, a sequel was released, and in 2021, a series of the same name followed, in which paranormal experts search for the family curse that supposedly caused the murders.
· ‘Lizzie’ (2013) – In this version, a young woman suffers from memory loss and slowly realizes that she may have murdered her parents; a discovery filled with terrifying flashbacks.
· ‘Lizzie Borden's Revenge’ (2013) – A group of girls jokingly summons the spirit of Lizzie Borden during a sleepover; and of course, that goes wrong.
· ‘Lizzie Borden Took an Ax’ (2014) – A more biographical drama film that follows the story as it is known. The film was such a success that a miniseries followed a year later: ‘The Lizzie Borden Chronicles’.
· ‘Lizzie’ (2018) – This film is also biographical and follows the well-known story. With Chloë Sevigny as Lizzie and Kristen Stewart as the Borden family's maid.
‘Monster 4’
Since we are not entirely sure whether Lizzie was truly guilty, it remains to be seen how the creators will fill in the new series. In ‘Monster 3’ we already saw that they are not afraid to embellish things, so we can expect quite a bit of horror again. What we do know is who will play the role of Lizzie: Ella Beautty. She previously collaborated with creator Ryan Murphy for the series ‘Feud: Capote vs. The Swans’. Charlie Hunnam, aka Ed Gein, is also returning; but this time as father Andrew Borden. A bit different from his murderer role, and hopefully with a different voice. The production of the new series has just begun, so we have to be patient for a while. The expectation is that we can watch it somewhere in 2026; enough time to prepare, right?
