(Credit: Netflix)

It’s natural to presume that if you’ve clicked this article, it means you have finished watching Monster: The Ed Gein Story. And if you have, you know that it isn’t just another true-crime show. This one is of the kind that stays in your head and unleashes horrific scenarios whenever it’s spoken about.

The way it showed fear, realism, and emotion makes it hard to move on. Ryan Murphy took one of the darkest stories in American history and turned it into something that feels utterly horrifying yet somewhat human. And once you finish it, regular crime dramas just don’t hit the same way anymore.

Hence, we have got you seven shows to pick from which might not match the same intensity as The Ed Gein Story but have their own type of darkness to give you the same chills.

And don’t worry, we are not talking about the other Monster seasons here, as there’s a high chance you’ve probably already seen Dahmer and The Menendez Story. They’re about real people, real crimes, and the uncomfortable truths that come with them.

While some are tense and emotional, others are cold and chilling, but all of them make you think about what people are truly capable of.

Seven Netflix shows to watch if you loved Monster

American Murder: Laci Peterson (2023)

Starting with one of the most chilling stories America’s ever witnessed: American Murder: Laci Peterson. This series tells the heartbreaking story of Laci Peterson, a young woman who vanished from her California home in 2002 while eight months pregnant. Her husband, Scott Peterson, appeared on TV pleading for her safe return, but as the investigation progressed, the story took a darker turn. What starts as a missing-person case becomes a national obsession, with the media following every detail.

You’ll find this one fascinating if you were drawn to Monster for its emotional side. It’s not just about a crime; it’s about how fast love, trust, and public sympathy can collapse. It shows how ordinary people can become headlines overnight and how truth can get lost in the noise.

The Serpent (2021)

Based on horrifically true events, The Serpent follows Charles Sobhraj, a charming man who hunted young travellers across Asia in the 1970s. With the help of his girlfriend, Marie-Andrée Leclerc, he tricked backpackers into trusting him before stealing their passports, money, and lives. Tahar Rahim plays Sobhraj with a scary calmness, while Jenna Coleman brings depth to Marie-Andrée’s torn loyalty.

What makes this show stand out is how quiet and confident it is. Plus, this pair is most likely to remind you of the energy Eddie and Adeline shared over bodies. Also, if you liked Monster for how it showed cruelty hiding behind normalcy, The Serpent gives you that same unsettling feeling.

The Watcher (2022)

Imagine finally buying your dream home only to find out someone is watching you. Sometimes it’s the initial paranoia that settles out eventually, but that wasn’t the case with the Brannock family in The Watcher. The show is inspired by a real New Jersey case where, after moving into their perfect house, the Brannocks start getting strange letters from someone claiming to know everything about them. The neighbourhood looks quiet, but everyone feels suspicious.

The noticeable factor of the show is how familiar it feels. It’s hard to not imagine your own family instead of the Brannocks. Most importantly, the fear doesn’t come from ghosts or killers but from the thought that your safe space might not be safe at all.

Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes (2019)

This one goes straight to the source. Using Bundy’s real recorded interviews, Conversations with a Killer gives us the story of America’s most famous serial killer in his own words. The show mixes those chilling tapes with archival footage and reenactments, showing how Bundy managed to fool everyone with his charm while hiding his crimes.

You’ll like this if you were hooked by Monster for how it explored the mind of a killer instead of just the crimes. Bundy doesn’t sound like a movie villain here; he sounds like someone you could’ve met, and that’s exactly what makes it so disturbing.

Indian Predator: The Diary of a Serial Killer (2022)

This series brings the darkness in a way none of you might have imagined. It tells the true story of Raja Kolander, a journalist from Uttar Pradesh accused of murdering several people. When police found his diary, they uncovered shocking details about his crimes and the twisted thoughts behind them. The show uses reenactments and interviews to bring together the story of how an ordinary man turned into something far more dangerous.

If you liked Monster for its horrifyingly quiet tone, Indian Predator: The Diary of a Serial Killer hits that same note. It’s eerie because there’s no glamour or cinematic polish. Just the kind of fear that seeps into you slowly.

Unbelievable (2019)

Unbelievable is a limited series that tells the story of Marie, a teenager accused of lying about being assaulted. When two detectives in another state start investigating similar cases, they uncover the truth that Marie had been telling all along. It is based on real events and stars Kaitlyn Dever, Toni Collette, and Merritt Wever, who give some of the most powerful performances on Netflix. A bonus recommendation here is Toni Collette’s recent show Wayward, which is not exactly true-crime-based, but the story will shock you in the most unbelievable way.

Unbelievable is not about serial killers or shocking murders, but it’s about how justice can fail when people decide not to believe. If you liked Monster for its emotional honesty, this one will stay with you.

When They See Us (2019)

Created by Ava DuVernay, this four-part series walks you through the story of the Central Park Five. Five Black teenagers wrongfully convicted of assaulting a woman in 1989. It follows them from their arrests through their trials and the years that followed. This show hurts so much because it shows how the system and the media destroyed their lives.

It’s one of the most powerful series on Netflix, not because it’s violent, but because it’s true. When They See Us shows what happens when the world decides who is guilty before the facts come out. If Monster made you think about guilt and innocence in a deeper way, this show takes that idea further. It’s heartbreaking but also full of strength, making it one of Netflix’s most unforgettable series.