A New Chapter of True Crime
Netflix has launched the fourth installment of the acclaimed true crime anthology series Monster, titled Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story. Created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, the limited series pivots from previous seasons to explore the life and legal battle of Lizzie Borden, the Massachusetts woman infamously acquitted of the 1892 axe murders of her father and stepmother. According to Radio Times, the series reframes the historical mystery through a lens of female rage, repression, and revenge.
The Lead Ensemble
At the center of the series is Ella Beatty, who portrays the titular character. Beatty, known for her work in Feud: Capote vs the Swans and the Sundance film If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, describes the role as an opportunity to interpret the widely disputed facts of the case. Joining her is an ensemble cast that bridges familiar faces from previous Murphy projects with new additions.
The core cast includes:
- Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden
- Charlie Hunnam as Andrew Borden, Lizzie’s controlling father
- Rebecca Hall as Abby Borden, the stepmother who faced friction with the Borden sisters
- Vicky Krieps as Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan, imagined as Lizzie’s co-conspirator and romantic partner
- Billie Lourd as Emma Borden, Lizzie’s sister
- Jessica Barden as Nance O’Neil, an actress and friend of Lizzie
- Joey Pollari as John Morse, Lizzie’s maternal uncle
- Sarah Paulson as Aileen Wuornos, appearing in a flash-forward narrative thread
Thematic Stakes
The series aims to move beyond a simple retelling of the 1892 crime. By incorporating figures like Aileen Wuornos, the show attempts to map a lineage of female rage, a thematic hallmark of Murphy and Brennan’s collaborative process. For Beatty, the lack of consensus regarding Lizzie Borden’s guilt or innocence provided a unique entry point into the character, allowing her to portray Lizzie as an icon choosing to forge her own narrative rather than live within the confines of her Victorian environment.
Production Context
The production reunites several frequent Murphy collaborators, including Sarah Paulson and Billie Lourd, while introducing new dynamics through performers like Rebecca Hall. Beatty has specifically highlighted her chemistry with Hall, noting that the “wildness” and worldview of their characters mirrored their collaborative dynamic on set. The series is currently available for streaming on Netflix, marking another high-profile entry in the platform’s true crime library.