Netflix’s Twisted Crime Saga ‘Monsters’ Takes a Chilling Turn For Season 4

Ryan Murphy isn’t slowing down anytime soon. The creator behind Monster — Netflix’s hit true crime series, has locked in the subject of Season 4, and it’s going to shake things up in a big way. According to Variety, the next chapter will tell the story of Lizzie Borden, a woman accused of murdering her father and stepmother with an axe in 1892. But unlike the men featured in the show so far, Borden was found not guilty.

The first season of Monster shocked audiences with the horrifying case of Jeffrey Dahmer, with Evan Peters playing the infamous serial killer. Then, Season 2 focused on the Menendez brothers, who were convicted of killing their wealthy parents. Now, fans are still waiting for Season 3, which will center on Ed Gein, also known as The Butcher of Plainfield. He’s the Wisconsin killer whose gruesome crimes inspired films like Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Charlie Hunnam is set to star as Gein, though Netflix hasn’t officially announced the release date yet.

Production for Season 3 is expected to begin in the fall. But that’s not what’s got people talking right now. News that Murphy has chosen Lizzie Borden for Season 4 brings a fresh twist to the show. Borden’s story isn’t like the others — there was no conviction, and there are still questions about who really committed the crime.

In 1892, in Fall River, Massachusetts, Andrew and Abby Borden were found murdered with an axe in their home. Lizzie, Andrew’s daughter, was quickly arrested, but after a sensational trial, she was acquitted. She lived out the rest of her life in Fall River, never charged again.

Over time, the case became legend. There’s even a creepy children’s rhyme about it: “Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother forty whacks…”

The mystery surrounding the case has kept people guessing for over a century. Some believe Lizzie did it. Others think someone else was involved, like her uncle John Morse, who was in town that day. There’s no clear answer, and that’s probably why Murphy is drawn to it. The show might explore these possibilities or it could double down on the version of the story where Borden is guilty. It’s not yet clear what direction Murphy will take.

Plenty of other creators have tackled the Borden story over the years. Christina Ricci played her in the 2014 Lifetime movie Lizzie Borden Took an Axe. In 2018, Lizzie starred Chloë Sevigny and Kristen Stewart, and added a whole new layer to the tale, suggesting Lizzie and the maid, Bridget Sullivan, were lovers and that the murders were somehow connected to their secret relationship. That film took a lot of creative liberties, but it showed just how many angles this story can take.

Now that Murphy’s team is preparing to bring Borden’s case to the screen, fans are curious to see what version we’ll get. Will the show go for drama and mystery, or will it build a new theory around what really happened?

This information was first posted by Variety.

One thing’s for sure, Lizzie Borden’s name is back in the headlines, and with Monster behind her story, it’s going to be talked about all over again.