Ryan Murphy’s Monster anthology is finally giving us its first female killer. After Jeffrey Dahmer, the Menendez brothers, and Ed Gein, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story turns to America’s most infamous unsolved axe murders — and it’s shaping up to be the franchise’s darkest, strangest chapter yet.
Overview
This is Season 4 of Netflix’s true-crime anthology series Monster, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan. It stars Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden, the woman tried (and acquitted) for the 1892 axe murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts. Unlike a straight true-crime retelling, this season reportedly leans into a “bold, darkly comic” tone, framing Lizzie’s story as one of repression, rage, and reinvention.
Basic Details
| Details | Info. |
|---|---|
| Genre | Biography, Crime, Drama, True Crime |
| Episodes | 8 |
| Directors | Max Winkler, Sarah Adina Smith |
| Cast | Ella Beatty, Vicky Krieps, Rebecca Hall, Charlie Hunnam, Billie Lourd, Joey Pollari, Sarah Paulson, Jessica Barden |
| Release Date | September 17, 2026 |
| Where to Watch | Netflix |
| IMDb Rating | Not yet available — hasn’t released |
| Expected Season | Season 4 of the Monster anthology; a fifth season has not yet been announced. |
THE OFFICAL TRAILER FOR MONSTER: THE LIZZIE BORDEN STORY HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET.
Plot Summary
Lizzie Borden is the repressed daughter of a wealthy but cruel New England family. Alongside her rebellious maid, Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan, she’s trapped in a household built on humiliation and control. To cope, the two escape into a private fantasy world of sex, power, and revenge. Then, the gruesome, still-unsolved murders of Lizzie’s father and stepmother shatter that fantasy — and turn her into a national obsession. The show follows how she transforms from a quiet, oppressed daughter into an icon who refuses to stay caged, for better or worse.
Why You Should Be Excited
- A true anthology first. After three seasons centered on male killers, this is Monster’s first female “monster” — and its oldest true story yet.
- A stacked cast. Ella Beatty leads, backed by Rebecca Hall, Charlie Hunnam, Vicky Krieps, and Monster veteran Sarah Paulson.
- A bolder tone. Early reports describe a “darkly comic” approach, a shift from the franchise’s usual bleak realism.
- Perfect spooky-season timing. Like every prior season, it’s dropping in the fall, right on cue for Halloween viewing.
Since it hasn’t premiered, there’s no verdict yet — just real anticipation built on casting and early photos.
Recommendations
- Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story — The anthology’s breakout first season.
- Monster: The Ed Gein Story — The most recent prior installment.
- Lizzie (2018) — An earlier film take on the same case, starring Chloë Sevigny and Kristen Stewart.
- Feud: Capote vs. The Swans — For more of Ella Beatty’s recent work.
- American Crime Story — Ryan Murphy’s other true-crime anthology, for a similar tone.
Conclusion
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is betting on a bold new direction for a franchise that already knows how to generate buzz. With a strong cast and one of history’s most enduring unsolved mysteries as its subject, it’s shaping up to be a must-watch this September — assuming the execution matches the ambition.