Das Monster von Florenz

The Monster of Florence case is one of the most bizarre, complex, convoluted and fascinating cases in the history of serial murder. Spanning at least 11 and possibly 17 years, it led to at least 14 and possibly 16 murders, four trials, one trial conviction, two definitive convictions and the trial convicted defendant, Pietro Pacciani, dying in mysterious circumstances before his due process could be completed. It also involved two targeted burglaries of the police evidence room, where several items of evidence were stolen and a string of collateral mysterious deaths and murders of several people involved in the case, as well as strange money transfers into the accounts of two suspects and mysterious threatening phone calls to various witnesses.

The official position of the Italian police is that an occult group of wealthy Italians commissioned the murders, hiring various low lives over the years to do the actual killings, in order to retrieve body parts, that would then be used in weird black magic rituals.

The problem with the Netflix Monster of Florence series is that it covers none of this at all. Instead it focuses on a clan of Sardinians who were initially suspected in being involved in the murders, but were later discounted as new developments arose.

It also consists of repetitive and rather pointless flashbacks and has a strange fixation with a 1968 double murder, which may not have even been perpetrated by the Monster of Florence.

For a series covering an absolutely fascinating and possibly unique serial murder case, it's surprisingly dull and kinda boring and focuses more on melodrama between the Sardinians, instead of the nuances and developments of the case.

The trial convicted defendant Pietro Paccianin is only barely mentioned at the end of the series.

Unless there's a planned second season which will cover the complete story, (and there hopefully will be, considering Pacciani's mention at the end), I'd say to anyone interested in the case to not bother with this one. Watch the feature length 2020 documentary, "The Monsters of Florence" by journalist Andrea Vogt instead. It's far more detailed and available on Netflix UK or Tubi for American viewers.

But as someone familiar with the Monster of Florence case and who has been fascinated by it for years, I found this series extremely disappointing to say the least.

"Il Mostro" sets out with a chilling premise: a serial killer terrorizing the Florence area. It opens with one of his crimes, then links it to another murder from about 15 years earlier. From that point, the narrative shifts almost entirely to the old case and the people involved.

But honestly, almost nothing new is revealed throughout the story. Instead, what stands out is how clumsy and ineffective the Italian justice system appears to be. The series leaves you frustrated more than intrigued.

While based on real events, it never explores the aftermath in any meaningful way. The only memorable moment is a line about Salvatore's disappearance and how the killings stopped afterward - possibly just coincidence. Beyond that, we learn nothing about what happened to the other characters.

And on a side note, it surprised me how many young people in 1980s Florence kept risking being alone in cars together despite the killer targeting exactly that situation. Maybe I'm just naive, but it felt unrealistic.

In the end, "Il Mostro" is atmospheric and well-crafted visually, but it's a disappointing look at how justice faltered and a story that fails to deliver deeper insight.

Really slow and unfocused to the point where it was often difficult to follow.

The myriad of characters and constant flashbacks/flashforwards were the main reason for the confusion while watching this. There was also nothing compelling about the Italian police procedural side of this crime case, which was mind boggling because the case was reportedly delayed and unsolved for many years longer than it should have because of purported misdeeds and mishandling of evidence and suspects by said police squad.

I would have rather seen this story told from the point of view of the Douglas Preston non-fiction book. Far more compelling!

What the Zodiac Killer is to the Bay Area, the Florence Monster is to Tuscany: a still-unsolved mystery surrounding a series of murders of young lovers! Amazingly, serial killers rarely murder lovers. Besides the Florence Monster, this was probably only the case with Zodiac and Son of Sam. Italian director Stefano Sollima has turned the series of murders in Tuscany into an impressive miniseries.

The actual series of murders began in 1968 with the murder of Barbara Locci (Francesca Olia) and her lover. The series, in four parts, unfolds the stories of four men somehow involved in the crimes. This results in a breathtaking social portrait of Italy from the late 1950s to the 1980s. Italy's rapid economic development encounters people still entangled in archaic social structures. Director Stefano Sollima cast actors for the individual roles who are probably still relatively unknown in Italy. He also clearly ensured that some of the actors, like the people they portray, were from the island of Sardinia. It becomes clear that the mysterious events centered on the couple Barbara Locci and Stefano Mele (Marco Bullitta) and their son Natalino (Samuel Fantini). Two brothers from Sardinia, who lived with the couple as lodgers several years apart, also play an important role: Salvatore (very impressive: Valentino Mannias) and Francesco Vinci (Giacomo Fadda).

This series is not for the faint of heart! In addition to the harrowing murder scenes, there are also images of a toxic marriage, some of which are even harder to bear. Stefano Sollima (son of Sergio Sollima) has staged this in a truly impressive way. And the story isn't over yet. This series of murders continued to make headlines worldwide in the 1990s, so there's potential for a sequel.

A new Netflix series has just been released - The Monster of Florence. It's based on real events that took place between 1978 and 1985 near the city of Florence, in its suburbs. This is already the third major series in recent months exploring serial killings - after the ones about Ed Gein and John Wayne Gacy. But this one is very different.

While American true-crime shows usually follow a familiar pattern - a troubled childhood, a drunk father, a fanatically religious mother using faith as control - The Monster of Florence goes in the opposite direction.

There's no typical "killer vs. Victim" formula here. Instead, it's a deep, almost philosophical story about post-war Italy - about a society that was closed, judgmental, and constrained by Catholicism and social dogmas.

For me, it was quite an eye-opener. I didn't even know that until 1970, divorce was illegal in Italy. A man who left his wife and children for another woman could lose not only his reputation but his freedom. The series captures this cultural reality - a world where personal freedom was suppressed by religion and fear of public shame.

In its tone and atmosphere, the series feels like an old Italian drama, where the focus is not on the killer but on the spirit of the time - how people lived, what they feared, and how they hid their desires and guilt. It's psychological and spiritual cinema, not horror or crime for shock value.

Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised. At first, I expected a typical American-style thriller, but it turned out to be something much deeper. The pacing is slow and deliberate, the visuals stunning, with beautiful cinematography and an authentic sense of Tuscany's outskirts.

I really don't understand why the ratings are so low - perhaps viewers expected more blood and suspense, but instead got a thoughtful exploration of morality, guilt, and repressed sexuality in Catholic society.

⭐ My rating: 8/10.

Not for those seeking fast-paced action - but definitely for anyone who appreciates psychological drama and European cinema with historical depth.