Monster: The Ed Gein Story Is Scary, But There Is Another Recent Serial Killer Mini-Series That I Think Is Even More Disturbing

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Several streaming services currently offer mini-series about serial killers. Netflix’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story is a dark, atmospheric series that feels like a horror film. However, Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy, available on Peacock, is even more compelling. While it’s less focused on horror elements, this actually makes it more unsettling and disturbing.

John Wayne Gacy Is One Of The Most Terrifying Killers Ever

Ed Gein inspired characters like Norman Bates and Leatherface, but what truly makes John Wayne Gacy terrifying is how ordinary he seemed outside of his crimes. I won’t delve deeply into the psychology of either killer, but Gein was clearly troubled in many ways. As portrayed by Charlie Hunnam in Monster, Gein was withdrawn and his development was stunted by a controlling mother and a difficult childhood.

John Wayne Gacy murdered at least 33 young men and boys and was undoubtedly deeply troubled mentally. Despite this, he appeared normal to many people, being sociable, successful in business, and even a well-known clown for children’s parties. He presented himself as an ordinary, everyday person – unlike some other criminals, like Ed Gein, he didn’t initially seem strange or out of place.

Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy Is Disturbing, Because It’s So ‘Real’

Similar to Charlie Hunnam’s portrayal of Ed Gein in Monster, Michael Chernus delivers a chilling and frightening performance as John Wayne Gacy in Devil in Disguise. He expertly captures both the terrifying and surprisingly friendly sides of the killer, switching between them with unsettling ease – mirroring Gacy’s real-life duality. While Gein’s crimes feel almost unbelievable, Gacy’s are frightening precisely because they feel so plausible.

John Wayne Gacy is the type of serial killer people find most terrifying because he seemed like an ordinary, approachable neighbor. Unlike Ed Gein, who lived a secluded life, Gacy was a public figure. The documentary Devil in Disguise highlights this contrast, weaving between Gacy’s life after his 1978 arrest and the stories of his victims before they encountered him, emphasizing how seemingly normal everything was. The suburban Chicago setting of the 1970s feels more relatable to modern life than the rural Wisconsin of the 1940s, making Gacy’s case particularly unsettling.

The two limited series coming out in 2025 are both excellent. They’re genuinely frightening and accurately portray both the killers and the eras they lived in. The acting is superb across the board, and both shows capture the essence of the murderers’ infamous reputations. However, I definitely prefer Devil in Disguise – I find Gacy to be a particularly terrifying figure, arguably the scariest murderer of the 20th century.

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2025-10-26 23:08