Le Monstre de Florence

There are stories that are born and grow with you, and The Monster of Florence was my dark lullaby companion growing up.

No, I'm not Italian, but Swiss-close enough to the border that Italian culture and its stories often slipped through.

I remember being both terrified and mesmerised by the fear surrounding satanic cults and the "Pacciani trials." They were constantly on the news.

After my cartoon-filled afternoons, I'd stay glued to the television, waiting for the latest update on Il Mostro di Firenze.

So, when Netflix announced its series "Il Mostro," I approached it with cautious excitement. Having watched countless documentaries, films, and series about the case, I feared it would tread the same weary ground.

Thankfully, it doesn't. Instead, it returns to the origins-before The Monster of Florence even existed.

Finally-and I say this with some relief-Netflix delivers a true-crime series that transcends the formula of romanticising serial killers.

"The Monster" avoids mere sensationalism, examining the case through the fractured mirror of Italy's 1960-1970s social perspective.

Starting from the notorious Sardinian trail and the double murder of Barbara Locci and Antonio Lo Bianco in 1968, director Stefano Sollima portrays not an unknown killer, but a festering web of family ties, superstition, and archaic power structures-the breeding ground from which countless lesser monsters could only emerge.

The only certainty that endures is the killer's hatred of women-a sentiment reflective of the prevailing misogyny in society at that time.

Sollima and screenwriter Leonardo Fasoli craft a four-part miniseries with respect for both the victims and the enduring mystery surrounding this unsolved case.

"The Monster" doesn't aim to give a name to il mostro di Firenze, nor does it chase any new twists.

By now, the story is familiar; what remains compelling is how evil takes root and expands-from the whispers of a small town to an obsession that captures a nation.

This is horror born of history: the kind that festers in the quiet corners of a society that would rather look away.

Each episode centres on a different suspect-from the Vinci brothers to the Mele clan-all potentially guilty, all tragically distant from the truth.

Whatever that truth is, it still hasn't found peace, though the series could have delved deeper into the societal trauma that marked a generation of Italians.

"The Monster" still stands as one of the few true-crime works that understands horror not as spectacle, but as something rooted in the collective memory of a nation.

Making a miniseries about a serial killer always has potential, but here the result doesn't quite deliver. The Monster of Florence aims to be an elegant, atmospheric true crime story -slow, reflective, and serious- but it ends up being too slow for its own good. Instead of building tension, it drains it. There's no clear main character or strong narrative thread to pull the viewer in, and the story feels scattered and unfocused.

Stefano Sollima tries to add depth through fragmented storytelling, jumping back and forth in time and showing events from different perspectives. It's an interesting idea, but confusion wins over intrigue. At times, it feels more like an exercise in style than a compelling story.

The best part lies in the atmosphere -that unsettling Tuscan landscape, the impeccable cinematography, and the ever-present sense of quiet danger. There's talent behind the camera, but also a lack of rhythm and emotional grip.

It's not a failure, but definitely a missed opportunity. If you're looking for a human, grounded take on the case without sensationalism, you might find something here. But if you expect a gripping, addictive thriller, you'll likely tune out before the end.

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.

Not that great either!

I agree a lot more could have been brought out to the viewer.

Yet, it was interesting as I have not read the book or knew about such a case.

I guess they tried. Just is not as exciting as I had expected. I think I'll buy the book. Maybe help fact from overthinking drama series.

Very well acted. It is surprising. It makes you think. Who has done it? Great sites and surroundings. All those cars of the 70's and 80's. So nice. Yep, the movie is a bit dark. It is a dark story. Very Italian, what I like a lot. And now I still hsve to write 70 characters. I would like ifdutch actors could play like the profs in this movie!! They cant....