Netflix's hit true-crime anthology series Monster is returning for a fourth installment, and creators Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan are setting their sights on one of American history's most baffling unsolved mysteries: Lizzie Borden.
Following seasons focused on Jeffrey Dahmer, the Menendez brothers, and Ed Gein, the upcoming chapter explores the notorious 1892 hatchet murders in Fall River, Massachusetts.
## What Happened in 1892
In August 1892, Andrew Borden and his second wife, Abby, were brutally murdered in their Massachusetts home. Andrew's unmarried daughter, Lizzie, quickly became the prime suspect due to shifting alibis and tense household dynamics regarding money.
Despite an all-male jury acquitting her in 1893 due to a lack of direct physical evidence, the gruesome nature of the crime left Lizzie under a cloud of suspicion for the rest of her life. The enduring fascination stems from the open-ended nature of her acquittal and the tight circle of suspects inside the house that fateful morning.
## A Legacy of Adaptation
Borden's macabre story has inspired countless novels, plays, and films over the decades. Past screen portrayals have ranged from Elizabeth Montgomery’s icy Victorian lady in 1975 to Christina Ricci’s high-school mean-girl take in 2014, and Chloe Sevigny’s 2018 feminist-coded thriller.
For the new Netflix iteration, actress Ella Beatty takes on the lead role. Creators have signaled that the show leans into themes of female rage and societal pressures, echoing Sevigny's view of Borden as a rebel fighting against a patriarchal system. Trailers also hint at a speculative relationship between Lizzie and the family maid, Bridget Sullivan—a creative liberty frequently explored by modern dramatists.
## A Surprising Contemporary Twist
In a unique narrative choice, this season of Monster weaves in a second storyline: the case of Aileen Wuornos, the Florida sex worker convicted of murdering seven men in 1992. By pairing Borden with Wuornos, the series aims to examine how female rage can manifest under extreme circumstances, despite women being statistically far less likely to commit violent crimes.
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story premieres on Netflix on September 17, ensuring the legendary ax-wielding mystery will captivate a brand new generation of true-crime enthusiasts.
