Monster: The Ed Gein Story ending explained – Does Ed die?

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*Please be advised: This article reveals every major plot point from the last episode of Monster: The Ed Gein Story. It also discusses disturbing topics like murder and sexual assault, which may be upsetting to some readers.*

Over eight episodes, the series takes you through the disturbing story of Ed Gein, exploring his crimes, childhood, and ultimate capture. The final episode of Monster: The Ed Gein Story finds the serial killer and grave robber in a mental institution, and the episode largely centers on the lasting impact of his actions.

According to the lead actor, Charlie Hunnam, the series will offer a deeply personal and honest look at the life of Ed. He explained, “This is going to be the really human, tender, unflinching, no-holds-barred exploration of who Ed was and what he did. But who he was being at the center of it, rather than what he did.” This suggests the show will focus more on Ed’s inner life and motivations than simply recounting his actions.

Throughout this season, we’ve explored how Ed Gein’s crimes have left a mark on Hollywood. Films like Psycho (1960), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), and The Silence of the Lambs (1991) all drew inspiration from his story when developing specific characters.

The final episode also reveals how Gein’s many horrifying crimes influenced later serial killers and changed the landscape of crime itself. What happens in the concluding part of the crime drama Monster: The Ed Gein Story? Continue reading to discover the details.

Monster: The Ed Gein Story ending explained

The last part of the story begins with a trip to Lake Sammamish in Washington state. There, two young girls are abducted and imprisoned by an unidentified man. He sexually assaults and murders them, and later returns to the location to see their bodies.

Next, the scene shifts to Salem, Oregon, where the FBI’s behavioural analysis unit is actively working on this case, hoping to gather information that will lead to the perpetrator’s capture. The team interviews Jerry Brudos, who is incarcerated, and he details his disturbing crimes. He also reveals that Ed Gein served as his source of inspiration.

Since Gein was still living, the team decided to visit him, hoping this infamous serial killer – who had inspired so many others – might offer some insight into catching their unidentified murderer. He shared information about the types of saws he used, and suggested they focus their search on someone purchasing a very specific saw and blade combination. He believed this was a key clue to finding their suspect.

Meanwhile, the story follows mass murderer Richard Speck as he adjusts to life in prison, engaging in sexual activity with other inmates in exchange for money or drugs. It’s revealed that his motive for committing these horrific acts was heavily influenced by Ed Gein.

Currently, Gein is having a difficult time at Central State Hospital. Staffing has been reduced, and he’s now realizing this is his punishment for past crimes. The story shows him receiving letters from Speck, who describes his own crimes in a shocking and crude way, and appears to be seeking a connection based on their shared history of wrongdoing.

Ed Gein, who enjoyed reading crime stories, contacted a sheriff when he thought he could assist with an investigation. He told the deputy that a man named Ted had written a letter to Speck, and shared this information with the officer. The following day, Gein learned from the news that the killer had been apprehended – it was Ted Bundy.

Relieved to have assisted in capturing the killer, Gein falls asleep. However, he has a dream while sleeping: he’s being wheeled down the hospital hallways towards a large gathering. The crowd includes medical staff – nurses and doctors – but also several serial killers who greatly admire him, such as Charles Manson, Brudos, Speck, and Ed Kemper.

Upon waking, he chatted with the nurse about Alfred Hitchcock, who had recently passed away. He noted that Anthony Perkins didn’t resemble him at all, and also mentioned he hadn’t earned any money from the film Psycho.

However, the nurse delivers even more upsetting news: he has lung cancer, and it’s terminal. Throughout the episode, we witness Gein grappling with his illness, and he receives a visit from Adeline (Suzanna Son). Gein questions her about the damaging reports she filed against him. She confesses she also battles mental illness, explaining she experiences periods of mania similar to his own. Ultimately, they both realize they’ve been facing the same struggles all along.

Does Ed die at the end of Monster: The Ed Gein Story?

Yes, Ed Gein’s death is depicted in Monster: The Ed Gein Story.

Throughout the series, Gein grows more and more exhausted, and eventually begins to hallucinate while watching television – he imagines he’s starring in his own MTV music video. While being wheeled down the hospital hallways yet again, he’s repeatedly confronted by nurses, doctors, and even serial killers who all seem cheerful and express gratitude to see him. It’s a disorienting experience.

Everyone was dancing and enthusiastically supporting him as he approached the staircase, where he spotted his mother, Augusta, waiting at the top. Finally able to reach her, she told him how proud she was of his accomplishments and that he had become someone significant, even influencing both films and, surprisingly, criminals.

She tells him, “You changed the whole world,” and it just hits me right in the feels. Suddenly, I’m seeing this beautiful flashback – them running around their house, just completely carefree and laughing. Then, it cuts to Augusta gently brushing his hair while he’s resting on her lap. It’s such a sweet, intimate moment, and it really shows their connection. It makes you realize how much everything meant to them.

After telling him how incredibly proud she is, she urges him to get some rest. The scene then shows Gein seemingly taking his final breath while lying in bed, with a single tear rolling down his cheek.

The movie then cuts to a cemetery, and it’s pretty disturbing – kids are messing with Ed Gein’s gravestone while trick-or-treating. As I watched, one of the teenagers looked up and noticed someone watching *them*. It was Anthony Perkins, and then things got *really* crazy. He suddenly found himself being chased by Buffalo Bill from The Silence of the Lambs, and then Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre joined the pursuit! It was a wild sequence.

The last scene of the show is a memory of Gein and his mother on their porch. Augusta tells him, “Only a mother could love you.” However, the way she says it is different this time – she’s smiling. This suggests the scene might be Gein’s idea of heaven, not what actually happened. It’s a contrast to how she said it in previous scenes, and hints at his distorted perception of reality. This final moment is particularly impactful because of this shift in tone.

Monster: The Ed Gein Story is currently available to watch on Netflix – you can subscribe to Netflix for as little as £5.99 per month. Netflix is also accessible through Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.

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2025-10-03 17:37