What to Know
It’s been more than 130 years since Andrew and Abby Borden were brutally killed inside their Massachusetts home, and people are still asking the same questions: Did Lizzie Borden get away with murder? And if she didn’t do it, who did?
Lizzie was famously accused of killing her dad and stepmother with a hatchet in 1892, only to then be acquitted of their murders in a trial that took place the following year. But the not-guilty verdict didn’t do much to quiet the speculation and suspicions about what really happened inside the Borden mansion that day. To this day, unanswered questions and ongoing theories keep people debating Lizzie’s guilt.
Now, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is putting one of the most infamous unsolved murder mysteries back under the microscope with a much bigger audience than ever before. But how much of the story viewers are seeing actually happened, and how much was created for the screen?
Is ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’ a real account?
That depends heavily on who you talk to about Lizzie Borden’s life. Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan created Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story for Netflix and have certainly given the story the Hollywood treatment. In the eight-episode series, we meet Lizzie, her stepmother Abby, and father, Andrew.
Another key storyline revolves around Lizzie and her family’s maid, Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan. According to Elle, much of what we see is fictionalized and sensationalized for TV. While Abby was a likely and unpleasant person, the extent to which “Monster” portrays her evil nature is exaggerated. The same is true of the romantic relationship between Lizzie and Maggie.
We may never know if Lizzie actually killed her parents.
Like many crimes, only those involved know the truth. A court acquitted Lizzie Borden of the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden in 1893, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t kill them. She may very well have, but the court didn’t find enough evidence to convict her.
As a matter of fact, long before Lizzie went to trial, many believed her uncle, John Morse, committed the heinous crimes. After all, he was a broke butcher who had a motive and the weapon, but he was never convicted either.
Fans love the show.
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story currently sits at No. 1 on Netflix. Fans can’t get enough of Beatty’s acting and the incredible writing on the show. Following the series drop, Beatty shared a sweet message on Instagram for the cast and crew.
“Immeasurable gratitude and awe for the entire cast and crew of Monster: The Lizzie Borden story,” she wrote. “Our show drops today!!!!!!”
Fans cheered her on in the comment section.
“I watched it all in a whole day I just finished it you’re unbelievably talented oh my goddddddddddd,” a fan wrote.
Others became totally wrapped up in the story. Like this person who shared, “Just started the first episode today. Enthralled with the acting, the set design and the costumes. No detail left unturned. Can’t wait to see what happens next!”
Ahead of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, Murphy told The Hollywood Reporter that he expected to ruffle a few feathers.
“I find that show to be very interesting because you know that no matter what you do, it’s going to be controversial. That’s baked into the cake. I’m always interested in, not glorifying these characters, but the Monster franchise is only about one thing: Are monsters made, or are they born?” he said.
You can check out Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story streaming now on Netflix.
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