Monster: The Ed Gein Story‘s titular serial killer and Chad Powers‘ fictional football-player-in-disguise Russ Holliday don’t automatically register as having anything in common. But underneath the prosthetic mask of each character is an actor usually recognized for his exceptionally good looks.
Turning Charlie Hunnam into the infamous “Butcher of Plainfield” wasn’t as challenging as one might think for hair department head Barry Lee Moe and makeup department head and prosthetic designer Corey Castellano. “I don’t think Ed was unattractive,” says Moe. “He had an interestingly shaped head, larger than some, but in general he was a handsome guy. I could see his quiet demeanor being charming to people in town. Charlie, in a way, was kind of the perfect person because he is this gentle giant who is very attractive.”
Early conversations with executive producer Ryan Murphy about achieving historical accuracy also focused on steering away from making Gein physically unappealing. “Ryan was really set on creating an all-American Hollywood matinee version of Ed Gein,” adds Moe. “It serves two purposes. It’s pretty to look at, obviously, but there’s a second part of it, where you’re pulled into the story in a way that you wouldn’t be if these characters looked like normal people at that time. The show is disturbing, but it’s stunning.”
