Some stories are disturbing enough to haunt you for days—but when fiction blends with real-life horror, the line between truth and drama becomes deeply unsettling. Netflix's Monster: The Ed Gein Story is one of those shows that refuses to let you look away. While most viewers tuned in expecting a chilling dive into Ed Gein’s twisted life—the notorious murderer who inspired classics like Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Silence of the Lambs—many were caught off guard when other infamous killers suddenly stepped into the spotlight. But here's where it gets controversial: these crossovers between Gein, Ted Bundy, and Richard "Birdman" Speck are not all rooted in historical fact.
Spoilers ahead for those who haven’t finished the series.
In the drama, Sons of Anarchy's Charlie Hunnam takes on the eerie, restrained menace of Ed Gein, while actors John T. O’Brien and Tobias Jelinek appear as Ted Bundy and Richard Speck. The final episode, aptly titled The Godfather, stages an unsettling scenario: Gein sits in his mental institution aiding the FBI in catching Bundy, whose violent abductions and murders are depicted in detail. This raises a burning question—how, exactly, do these infamous killers intersect in the show's narrative?
Richard "Birdman" Speck in the Series
The show uses its last episode to explore how Gein supposedly influenced other notorious murderers, including Speck and Bundy. Viewers first see Bundy luring a teenager into helping him before assaulting and killing her and another woman trapped in his car. During the investigation, the series depicts Speck—serving time in Illinois for slaughtering eight nursing students in 1966—receiving a fan letter from Bundy. In the message, Bundy credits Speck's crimes as his inspiration.
This fictional moment escalates when Speck writes to his own grim idol, Ed Gein, proudly relaying that his actions spurred Bundy to kill. He even encloses Bundy's letter, bragging about murders in the Pacific Northwest and outlining plans to continue killing in Speck's fashion.
Shaken by this, Gein supposedly contacts the FBI, handing over Bundy's name, vehicle details, and other clues that could help agents track him down. Earlier in the episode, Gein is seen meeting with members of the FBI's newly formed Behavioral Science Unit—a nod to Netflix's Mindhunter—where he is asked to share insights that might help identify an active killer. The series even draws a parallel to real profiler John E. Douglas by revisiting serial killer Jerry Brudos, portrayed here by Happy Anderson, who also played Brudos in Mindhunter.
But in reality, there's no factual record that Gein helped catch Bundy or that he ever corresponded with Speck. The show takes artistic liberty, weaving together legends and speculation to heighten the drama.
Why the Nickname "Birdman"?
The real Richard Speck earned his nickname from an infamous prison story. According to John E. Douglas, Speck once nursed a sparrow back to health after it flew in through a broken cell window. But when a guard told him pets weren’t allowed, Speck coldly tossed the bird into a running fan, killing it instantly. His chilling explanation? "If I can’t have it, no one can." It’s a grim anecdote that perfectly encapsulates how cruelty and control defined Speck’s personality.
There’s no question that the series blends truth with fiction in ways that will keep people talking. But does this kind of historical bending make the story more engaging, or does it risk misleading viewers about real events? Should true crime dramas be allowed to invent connections between real murderers for the sake of entertainment? Let’s hear your thoughts—would you rather see brutal accuracy, or are you okay with a dash of creative license in exchange for a good story?
