Created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan.
Monster (Dahmer: Monster – The Jeffrey Dahmer Story) premiered on September 21, 2022.
Distributed by Netflix.
Series Review
Monster is a true crime series that tells a new real-life case each season.
It is intense, emotional and often very uncomfortable to watch.
The show focuses on famous criminals but also shines a light on the victims and the mistakes made by police and society.
Season 1 – Dahmer
Evan Peters gives a strong performance.
The season shows how Jeffrey Dahmer was able to keep hurting people because warnings were ignored. It’s powerful but very graphic.
Season 2 – Menendez
This season covers the Menendez brothers’ case.
It shows family issues, media attention and courtroom drama. It’s dramatic and emotional but sometimes feels a bit uneven.
Season 3 – Ed Gein
Charlie Hunnam plays the killer.
The season is dark and carefully filmed but may feel too disturbing for some viewers.
Overall, Monster is well-acted and gripping, but not easy to watch.
It’s best for viewers interested in serious true crime stories.
Ratings
• IMDb: 7.8/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 40%
• Google Audience Score: 92% liked this TV show.
Monster (TV Series) Actors
Evan Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer
DOB: January 20, 1987.
Bio: American actor who began his career in teen television and film before becoming a mainstay in Ryan Murphy’s projects.
He gained prominence through multiple roles on American Horror Story, later earning critical acclaim and major awards for dramatic performances.
Peters is known for his transformative approach and willingness to portray psychologically complex characters.
Role: Peters portrays Jeffrey Dahmer in Season 1 of Monster.
His performance anchors the series, which examines Dahmer’s life and crimes while highlighting the institutional and societal failures that allowed them to continue.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1, 10 episodes.
What to Expect: A committed, often unsettling lead turn that aims to dramatize both the man and the consequences of systemic neglect.
Interesting facts: Peters’ work on Monster earned awards attention and created major public debate about true crime dramatization.
He has described immersive preparation for the role.
Notable Works: American Horror Story, Mare of Easttown, numerous film roles.
Charlie Hunnam as Ed Gein
DOB: April 10, 1980.
Bio: English actor known for intense, layered performances in both television and film.
He gained international recognition for Sons of Anarchy and has built a career balancing rugged leading roles with morally complex characters.
Role: Hunnam portrays Ed Gein in season 3, exploring the historical figure whose crimes influenced multiple horror icons.
The role examines Gein’s psychology, personal history, and the societal factors surrounding his story.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 3, 9 episodes.
What to Expect: A complex, sometimes disquieting performance that probes psychological origins rather than sensationalizing crimes.
Interesting facts: Hunnam told press the set had a surprisingly positive atmosphere as cast and crew focused on responsible storytelling.
Notable Works: Sons of Anarchy, Pacific Rim, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.
Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez
DOB: July 16, 1996.
Bio: American actor who has appeared in indie features, short films, and TV projects.
He is known for bringing emotional authenticity and vulnerability to complex roles.
Role: Koch portrays Erik Menendez in Season 2, exploring the younger brother’s psychological struggles across multiple perspectives.
His performance captures trauma, guilt, and the conflicting pressures of family and public scrutiny.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 2, 9 episodes.
What to Expect: Emotionally fragile scenes and a performance that asks viewers to weigh narrative perspective and truth.
Interesting facts: Koch conducted extensive research on the Menendez case and met with individuals connected to it to prepare for the role.
Notable Works: Swallowed and various short and stage projects.
Nicholas Alexander Chavez as Lyle Menendez
DOB: September 6, 1999.
Bio: Nicholas Alexander Chavez is an American actor who transitioned from daytime television to high-profile streaming projects.
He is recognized for bringing emotional intensity and complexity to his roles.
Role: Chavez portrays Lyle Menendez, the older brother involved in the 1989 murders, in Season 2.
His performance anchors the season’s exploration of conflicting perspectives, revealing both bravado and inner conflict.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 2, 8 episodes.
What to Expect: A performance that toggles between bravado and vulnerability as the season interrogates motive and memory.
Interesting facts: Chavez left a daytime series to film this season and his casting was widely reported in trade press.
Notable Works: General Hospital, other TV roles.
Niecy Nash as Glenda Cleveland
DOB: February 13, 1970.
Bio: American actress, comedian and host with a long-spanning career across television and film.
She is celebrated for her versatility, moving fluidly between comedy and drama, and has earned Emmy recognition for both comedic and dramatic work.
Role: Nash portrays Glenda Cleveland, Jeffrey Dahmer’s neighbor, whose persistent but ignored warnings form a central narrative thread of the season.
Through her character, the series explores themes of systemic inaction, racial bias and community frustration.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1, 7 episodes.
What to Expect: Powerful, outspoken scenes that balance blunt emotion with thoughtful perspective.
Interesting facts: Nash won an Emmy for her supporting work on the series and has been vocal about portraying survivors and witnesses with dignity.
Notable Works: Reno 911!, Claws, When They See Us.
Javier Bardem as José Menendez
DOB: March 1, 1969.
Bio: Oscar-winning Spanish actor celebrated for intense, morally complex performances in both international cinema and Hollywood.
He is known for his magnetic screen presence and ability to inhabit psychologically layered characters.
Role: Bardem portrays José Menendez, the patriarch at the center of the Menendez family story in Season 2.
His performance anchors the season’s exploration of family dynamics, wealth, and allegations of abuse, providing a human yet intimidating presence.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 2, 8 episodes.
What to Expect: A commanding, nuanced performance that balances the optics of wealth and parental control with complicated human behaviour.
Interesting facts: Bardem’s casting brought high-profile star power to the season and generated major awards attention for his supporting work.
Notable Works: No Country for Old Men (Oscar), Biutiful, Skyfall, Before Night Falls.
Richard Jenkins as Lionel Dahmer
DOB: May 4, 1947.
Bio: American character actor with a distinguished career across film, television and theatre.
Known for his subtle, nuanced performances, Jenkins has received widespread critical praise and numerous award nominations for his supporting and lead roles.
Role: Jenkins portrays Lionel Dahmer, Jeffrey’s father.
His performance provides emotional depth to the family narrative, exploring the personal and moral complexities of a man coping with horrifying revelations about his son.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1, 9 episodes.
What to Expect: A layered turn that explores parental guilt and confusion; scenes that humanize the family while not excusing systemic blind spots.
Interesting facts: Jenkins has long collaborated with prestige filmmakers and brings theatre discipline to long form TV. His season performance drew awards notice.
Notable Works: The Visitor, Olive Kitteridge, The Shape of Water.
Molly Ringwald as Shari Dahmer
DOB: February 18, 1968.
Bio: American actress who became a cultural icon as a teen star in 1980s films.
She has since built a diverse career in film, television, and stage, balancing nostalgia with contemporary roles.
Role: Ringwald portrays Shari Dahmer, Lionel’s second wife and Jeffrey’s stepmother.
Her performance explores complex family dynamics, emotional denial, and the shock of confronting her stepson’s crimes.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1, 8 episodes.
What to Expect: A grounded performance exploring family tensions, denial and the shock of revelation.
Interesting facts: Ringwald’s presence tied the show to a cross-generational audience and highlighted how true crime stories intersect with familiar cultural faces.
Notable Works: The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles.
Ari Graynor as Leslie Abramson
DOB: April 27, 1983.
Bio: Ari Graynor is an American actress known for her work in both television and film, adept at balancing sharp comedic timing with intense dramatic performances.
Role: Graynor portrays Leslie Abramson, the defense attorney for the Menendez brothers.
Her performance delivers a commanding courtroom presence, highlighting the legal and moral complexities surrounding the case.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 2, 6 episodes.
What to Expect: Sharp, tenacious courtroom scenes and moral complexity.
Interesting facts: Abramson is a controversial real life figure and Graynor approached the role without direct contact with the lawyer, per interviews.
Notable Works: The Sopranos (guest), Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, stage work.
Michael Learned as Catherine Dahmer
DOB: April 9, 1939.
Bio: American actress with a distinguished career in television, film, and stage.
She is best known for her Emmy-winning role as Olivia Walton on The Waltons and brings depth, warmth, and gravitas to supporting roles.
Role: Catherine Dahmer, Jeffrey’s grandmother, appears in season 1 and contributes to the family portrait that the series examines.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1, 5 episodes.
What to Expect: Small but memorable scenes that reflect the family’s past and generational patterns.
Interesting facts: Learned has won multiple Emmy awards for The Waltons and remains celebrated for her enduring contributions to television drama.
Notable Works: The Waltons, stage and television career spanning decades.
Chloë Sevigny as Kitty Menendez
DOB: November 18, 1974.
Bio: American actress and director renowned for her work in independent cinema and bold, often challenging roles.
She is recognized for portraying complex, psychologically nuanced characters and has earned critical acclaim for her fearless approach to storytelling.
Role: Sevigny plays Kitty Menendez, the mother of the Menendez brothers in Season 2.
Her performance delves into addiction, mental health, and the family dynamics that shaped the brothers’ lives, providing a layered and humanized perspective on a highly publicized case.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 2, 7 episodes.
What to Expect: Brave, nuanced depiction of a troubled parent whose life and choices are viewed through many perspectives in the season’s Rashomon style.
Interesting facts: Sevigny received awards notice for her work in the season and is known for deep research into difficult roles.
Notable Works: Boys Don’t Cry, Big Love, American Psycho, The Brown Bunny.
Nathan Lane as Dominick Dunne
DOB: February 3, 1956.
Bio: American actor known for his dynamic comic and dramatic performances on stage and screen.
He has a celebrated Broadway career and a wide-ranging filmography that blends humor, gravitas, and charisma.
Role: Lane portrays Dominick Dunne, the influential journalist whose coverage of the Menendez case shaped public perception.
His performance highlights the power and responsibility of media in high-profile criminal trials.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 2, 5 episodes.
What to Expect: Charismatic, often sharp scenes that critique media spectacle in criminal cases.
Interesting facts: Lane has a long history of playing both real and fictional figures, bringing theatrical energy and nuance to the portrayal of Dunne.
Notable Works: The Producers (stage and film), many Broadway hits.
More Actors
Season 1 (2022)
• Michael Beach as Detective Murphy
• Colby French as Patrick Kennedy
• Karen Malina White as Shirley Hughes
Season 2 (2024)
• Dallas Roberts as Dr. Jerome Oziel
• Marlene Forte as Marta Cano
• Bianca Araceli as Grandma Maria
Season 3 (2025)
• Suzanna Son as Adeline Watkins
• Vicky Krieps as Ilse Kosh/Bridget Sullvan
• Lauren Metcalf as Augusta Gein
FAQ – Monster (2022) TV Series
How many seasons of Monster are on Netflix?
There are at least 3 seasons of Monster on Netflix.
Is Monster (2022) based on a true story?
Yes. Each season is based on real-life criminals and true events.
Season 1 focuses on Jeffrey Dahmer, Season 2 on the Menendez brothers, and Season 3 on Ed Gein.
Is there a Season 4 in development?
Yes. Season 4 is announced to focus on the Lizzie Borden case with Ella Beatty cast as Lizzie, Rebecca Hall as her stepmother Abby, and Vicky Krieps as the maid Bridget Sullivan.
Is Monster (2022) scary or violent?
Yes, it contains very disturbing and graphic scenes involving violence, murder, and trauma. It is recommended for mature audiences only.
Was Monster originally planned as multiple seasons?
No. It was first conceived as a limited series about Dahmer, but Netflix later renewed it into an anthology with seasons covering other infamous cases.
Conclusion
Monster (2022) is a powerful but heavy true crime series that focuses on real cases with strong acting and detailed storytelling.
Each season highlights not just the criminals but also the victims, the system failures, and the social issues surrounding the crimes.
While the show is gripping and well-produced, it can be very graphic and emotionally intense, making it difficult for some viewers to watch.
If you’re interested in serious, performance-driven crime dramas that explore real events and consequences, this series delivers.