Charlie Hunnam’s portrayal of Ed Gein in Monster: The Ed Gein Story has been met with criticism regarding his accent, after ‘lost tapes’ surfaced showcasing the real voice of the notorious body-snatcher.
Following the success of The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, the third installment in Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s Monster series for Netflix, titled The Ed Gein Story, is highly anticipated.
This series delves into the life of Ed Gein, a convicted murderer, graverobber, and alleged serial killer. Charlie Hunnam, known for his role in Sons of Anarchy, takes on the role of Gein, while Tom Hollander, Suzanna Son, and singer Addison Rae feature in supporting roles.
Fans of true crime have been captivated by the recreation of Gein’s infamous ‘house of horrors’ and have commended Hunnam for his dedication, revealing the intense methods he used to embody the killer’s mindset.
However, some Netflix audiences have expressed discontent with Hunnam’s accent, especially after hearing ‘lost’ recordings of Gein’s actual voice.
These recordings were featured in the 2023 MGM documentary, Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein, which included a taped interrogation discovered in 2019.
The interview, believed to be recorded in 1957, was later invalidated due to Gein not being informed of his right to an attorney and having been physically abused by the sheriff in charge.
The four-part documentary, which includes a portion of the 70-minute interrogation, is accessible on Amazon Prime Video.
For those curious about Gein’s authentic voice, notes from The Lost Tapes can be listened to via YouTube.
Charlie Hunnam, originally from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, sought to accurately capture Gein’s voice for Monsters and reached out to the documentary’s producers in hopes of accessing the interrogation tapes.
Admittedly, he only gained access to them ‘three or four days before filming’, basing his portrayal largely on the dynamic with Gein’s mother, Augusta, who frequently expressed she wished he’d been born a girl.
Discussing his choice of accent, Hunnam explained: “The voice that I use was inspired by my research, particularly Ed’s deep-seated desire to gain his mother’s love and acceptance, which he never received, as she was the only significant relationship in his life.”
“I believed adopting a gentle, high-pitched voice might reflect Ed’s way of allowing his mother to love him,” Hunnam told the Radio Times.
Despite his thoughtful approach, many fans were quick to criticize Hunnam’s accent.
A YouTube user commented: “Had to listen to the real voice because I was sure there was no way he sounded like Winnie the Pooh.”
Another exclaimed: “The voice in the show is absurd.”
“Just started watching the show. Came here to verify if the voice matched, and now I’m unsure if I can continue,” another viewer expressed. “His voice in the series is bizarre. No one speaks that way!”
Additionally, a viewer queried: “Who advised Charlie Hunnam to speak as if he’s one of Ned Flander’s sons?”
Monster: The Ed Gein Story holds a 54 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, with some describing it as ‘chilling, voyeuristic, and unsettling’.
One critic praised it as ‘the best Monster installment yet’, noting: “Ed Gein’s tale is deeply unsettling and complex, leaving viewers questioning their own intrigue.”
The complete eight episodes of Monster: The Ed Gein Story are now available on Netflix.