The new Netflix series Monster: The Ed Gein Story shows the infamous killer in a mental asylum attacking a nurse with a chainsaw. This brutal scene has left many viewers asking a pressing question: did this really happen? The short answer is no. The scene is a fictional addition to the show, designed to explore the killer’s troubled mind.
The Fictional Asylum Attack
In Monster: The Ed Gein Story, a scene in the mental hospital shows Ed Gein, played by Charlie Hunnam, having a violent psychotic break. During this episode, he attacks and kills a nurse. However, the show later reveals that this entire event was a hallucination, a product of Gein’s schizophrenic mind.
This event was created by the show’s writers to heighten the drama and give viewers a window into Gein’s internal chaos and psychological torment. It serves as a shortcut to show his unraveling mental state.
Sources such as his medical records and doctors’ notes from his years at Central State and Mendota show that he did not cause any harm to the hospital staff while he was admitted there.
In reality, historical accounts and medical records indicate that Ed Gein was generally cooperative with staff and did not harm anyone during his time in the psychiatric hospital.
What the Show Is Really About
Monster: The Ed Gein Story is the third installment in Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s true crime anthology series for Netflix. Released on October 3, 2025, the eight-episode season digs into the life of one of America’s most notorious criminals.
The series explores Gein’s deeply troubled childhood under the control of his domineering mother, Augusta Gein. It shows his subsequent crimes and the way his actions inspired some of Hollywood’s most iconic horror villains, from Norman Bates in Psycho to Leatherface in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
The show balances these horrific acts with a look at the man himself, asking whether he was a product of his environment or if he was destined to become a monster.
Separating Fact from Fiction in the Series
While based on a true story, the Netflix series takes creative liberties to make the story more engaging for television. The fictional nurse attack is one of several events in the show that did not happen in real life.
- The Nurse Killing: As established, this was a hallucination for dramatic effect.
- Killing His Brother: The show depicts Gein killing his brother, Henry. In reality, Henry died in a brush fire that was officially ruled an accident.
- Romance with a Victim: The series suggests Gein was in a romantic relationship with Bernice Worden, one of his victims. Historical accounts indicate this was not true.
- Helping the FBI: The final episode shows Gein helping FBI agents profile Ted Bundy. There is no evidence this ever occurred.
The series also accurately portrays many true and gruesome aspects of Gein’s crimes, such as the “woman suit” made of human skin and other objects found in his “house of horrors.”
The Real Ed Gein in Confinement
The real Ed Gein was arrested in 1957 for the murder of hardware store owner Bernice Worden. After his arrest, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and found not guilty by reason of insanity. He spent the rest of his life in psychiatric hospitals, first at Central State Hospital and later at the Mendota Mental Health Institute.
According to reports from staff at the hospitals, Gein was generally a well-behaved patient who caused few problems. He worked as a carpenter and hospital attendant during his confinement. He died of respiratory failure on July 26, 1984, at the age of 77.
Also Read: Monster: The Ed Gein Story Asks Who the Real Monster Is
Credits: Netflix Tudum
