The popular streaming service Netflix has released its latest true-crime drama, 'Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story', as the fourth instalment of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan's anthology series. The series stars Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden, the Massachusetts woman accused of murdering her father and stepmother with an axe in 1892. This case has endured in popular culture for over a century, thanks in part to a schoolyard rhyme that has become synonymous with the crime.
The series explores Borden's life as a repressed daughter from a wealthy New England family, whose life becomes intertwined with that of Bridget "Maggie" Sullivan, the Bordens' live-in maid, played by Vicky Krieps. According to the series' synopsis, the pair find themselves trapped in a home marked by humiliation and cruelty before escaping into a world of sex, power, and revenge. The murders that follow shock the world and transform Borden into an enduring cultural figure.
After an extensive search, Murphy and Brennan cast Beatty in the title role. She previously appeared in Murphy's 'Feud: Capote vs. The Swans' and stars in Mary Bronstein's Oscar-nominated film 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You'. Beatty said the series explores Borden's psychology, as well as themes of female rage and repression, while examining a crime that has taken on an almost mythic status.
The cast also includes notable actors such as Charlie Hunnam as Andrew Borden, Lizzie's father; Rebecca Hall as Abby Borden, her stepmother; Billie Lourd as her older sister Emma; Jessica Barden as actor and friend Nance O'Neil; and Sarah Paulson as Aileen Wuornos. The series marks the anthology's first season centred on a woman as its titular "Monster".
The Lizzie Borden case has become a cultural phenomenon, with the schoolyard rhyme alleging that she struck her mother 40 times before killing her father with 41 blows. This rhyme has contributed to the enduring fascination with the case, and the series aims to explore the psychology behind the crime.
'Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story' is now streaming on Netflix, offering viewers a fresh take on a century-old crime. The series provides a unique perspective on the case, examining themes of female rage, repression, and the societal pressures that may have led to the murders.
The release of 'Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story' marks a significant addition to Netflix's collection of true-crime dramas. With its talented cast and thought-provoking themes, the series is set to captivate audiences and spark conversations about the complexities of human psychology and the consequences of trauma.
Key points
- The series stars Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden and explores themes of female rage and repression.
- The case has endured in popular culture for over a century, thanks in part to a schoolyard rhyme.
- The series marks the anthology's first season centred on a woman as its titular "Monster".
