Netflix released the fourth season of its true-crime anthology series Monsters, titled Monsters: The Lizzie Borden Story, on September 17, 2026, according to coverage from AlloCiné. Created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, the new installment explores the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden, earning an initial average viewer score of 2.8 out of 5 stars based on 183 user ratings on AlloCiné.
The Murders and the Feminist Reinterpretation
The series centers on Lizzie Borden, a 30-year-old woman accused and later acquitted of hacking her father and stepmother to death with a hatchet. According to AlloCiné’s compilation of viewer reviews, the show reimagines the historical events through a feminist lens, focusing on late 19th-century patriarchal oppression, class confinement, and domestic toxicity. Viewer Eva Francioso described the release on AlloCiné as a “feminist tale” honoring women’s emancipation, while user Patricia P. noted that the production explores the connection between oppression, anger, and violence rather than treating Lizzie as a standard criminal figure.
Tone Shift and Grand-Guignol Horror Style
Unlike previous seasons that focused on Jeffrey Dahmer, Ed Gein, and the Menendez brothers, showrunner Ian Brennan shifts the tone toward an outsized, campy gore style reminiscent of the Parisian Grand-Guignol tradition of bloody theater, according to reviews. The narrative features elaborate set pieces, including a chaotic family dinner scene and a detailed autopsy sequence in episode five. The cast features Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden, Charlie Hunnam as the father, Rebecca Hall as stepmother Abby Borden, Vicky Krieps as housekeeper Bridget Sullivan, and Sarah Paulson as Aileen Wuornos.
Viewer Reception and Historical Liberties
Audience reactions on AlloCiné remain mixed regarding the historical accuracy and pacing of the episodes. While user Mathildeblndel praised the set design, costume work, and strong performances despite acknowledging departures from recorded history, user Frédéric C. criticized the production for straying too far from the actual events of the case. More than 130 years after the facts, the true motives and the identity of the killer remain historically undetermined, though the court formally acquitted Lizzie Borden at the time.
