The poster for the television show “Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story” is shown. Released to Netflix on Sept. 17, the story falls into the fourth season of the “Monster” show and aims to depict the life of Lizzie Borden. “The writers and producers took their own spin on the story, making one of the main plotlines Lizzie’s blooming relationship with their family housemaid, Bridget ‘Maggie’ Sullivan (Vicky Krieps). This makes the show more interesting, but overall makes it seem more fictional than factual,” Variety Editor Eloise Luken wrote. “‘Monsters: The Lizzie Borden Story’ offers a thrilling step into the past, for those looking for entertainment, not education.” Poster fair use of Netflix
“Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story,” released to Netflix on Sept. 17, offers an entertaining, yet fictionalized depiction of the life of Lizzie Borden.
“Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story” was released to Netflix on Sept. 17 and is the fourth season of the biographical thriller television series “Monster,” written by Ian Brennan and produced by Max Wrinkler. This eight-episode season dives into the life of Lizzie Borden (Ella Beatty), who is known for supposedly murdering her stepmother and father with an axe in Fall River, Massachusetts, in the late 1800s.
On June 5, 1893, Lizzie was tried and acquitted of the murders of her father Andrew and her stepmother Abby. While she was acquitted, many still believe that she was behind the murders, and this season explores that perspective.
Early in the show, viewers get an inside perspective to Lizzie’s life, and will start to understand the reasons she despised her parents.
From the beginning, Abby (Rebecca Hall) is made out to be the real monster. She abuses her maids, and while never physically abuses Lizzie, she does everything she can to put her down. Andrew (Charlie Hunnan) does this as well, but not to the same degree.
The series may appeal more towards an adult audience, with the almost constant blood and gore, and the inclusion of other adult themes that some may find disturbing.
While this portrayal does add a sense of understanding, there is no evidence to prove many of the arguments presented, including the mentally-abusive parents. The writers and producers took their own spin on the story, making one of the main plotlines Lizzie’s blooming relationship with their family housemaid, Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan (Vicky Krieps). This makes the show more interesting, but overall makes it seem more fictional than factual.
Beatty’s portrayal of Lizzie was nicely done, and the acting from all included made the show entertaining and a fast watch.
The series may appeal more towards an adult audience, with the almost constant blood and gore, and the inclusion of other adult themes that some may find disturbing. Despite the fictional aspects, “Monsters: The Lizzie Borden Story” offers a thrilling step into the past, for those looking for entertainment, not education.
