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Netflix has released the fourth season of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s true-crime anthology series, Monster, with the latest instalment turning its attention to one of America’s most notorious murder cases.
Titled Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, the eight-episode biographical crime drama was released worldwide on September 17, 2026, and centres on the infamous 1892 axe murders in Fall River, Massachusetts.
The series explores the life of Lizzie Borden, the young woman who was accused of killing her father, Andrew Borden, and her stepmother, Abby Borden. Although Lizzie was tried for the murders and ultimately acquitted, the case has remained a subject of fascination for generations.
For Nigerian viewers, the complete miniseries is available to stream on Netflix with a standard subscription.
Ella Beatty Leads The Cast
The season features a prominent ensemble cast portraying individuals connected to the Borden case and the broader themes explored throughout the story.
Ella Beatty takes on the role of Lizzie Borden, portraying the young woman at the centre of the Fall River murders. Lizzie’s character is presented as a repressed woman whose circumstances and emotions form a major part of the series’ exploration of violence and female rage.
Charlie Hunnam plays Andrew Borden, Lizzie’s wealthy and frugal father, while Vicky Krieps portrays Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan, the Irish housemaid who worked for the Borden family.
Sarah Paulson also appears as Aileen Wuornos, the American serial killer whose story is incorporated into the series’ wider narrative.
Rebecca Hall, Billie Lourd and Jessica Barden are also part of the cast in prominent roles.
A Story That Connects Different Killers
One of the most notable creative choices in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is its decision to connect Lizzie’s story with other infamous female killers from different periods.
The series uses this structure to explore the idea of female rage and the ways stories about women who commit violent crimes are remembered and interpreted over time.
However, the connections are largely fictional. The historical figures involved lived in completely different periods and did not have the relationships or encounters depicted in the series.
For example, the show connects Lizzie with the story of Countess Elizabeth Báthory through folklore, with Maggie reading historical material about the Hungarian noblewoman to Lizzie.
The series also brings Aileen Wuornos into the narrative, portraying her as someone who draws comfort from Lizzie Borden’s story.
These elements are part of the drama’s broader storytelling approach rather than documented historical events.
The Famous Murder Case
The real-life Borden murders took place in Fall River in 1892 and involved the deaths of Andrew and Abby Borden.
Lizzie was accused of killing them and was subsequently put on trial. Despite the prosecution’s case, she was acquitted, leaving the question of who committed the murders unresolved in the public imagination.
The case later became associated with the famous playground rhyme claiming that Lizzie gave her mother “40 whacks” and her father “41 whacks”.
The series addresses the discrepancy between that popular version and the historical record.
In reality, Abby Borden was struck 19 times, while Andrew Borden was struck 11 times. The numbers referenced in the rhyme therefore do not accurately reflect the documented injuries.
Bertha Manchester Controversy
Another major fictional element in the series involves Bertha Manchester, a real-life victim of another axe murder in Fall River.
The show presents Lizzie as responsible for Manchester’s death and uses the killing as a supposed test run before the murders of her father and stepmother.
Historically, however, Bertha Manchester was killed nine months after the Borden murders and was not killed by Lizzie Borden.
This storyline demonstrates the extent to which the series reshapes historical events to create a dramatic narrative around Lizzie and the theme of female violence.
Fact And Fiction
While Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story draws inspiration from real people and events, viewers should distinguish its dramatic storytelling from established historical records.
The series uses documented details surrounding the Borden murders as a foundation but introduces fictional relationships, events and connections involving other notorious women.
By combining historical crime with fictionalised storytelling, the new season examines how notorious women and their crimes have been remembered over time.
With its eight episodes, high-profile cast and focus on one of America’s most enduring murder mysteries, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story offers Netflix viewers a dramatised interpretation of the case that continues to generate debate more than a century later.
Watch trailer below…
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