RYAN MURPHY’S LIZZIE BORDEN
Charlie Hunnam, Rebecca Hall, Ella Beatty+
Ryan Murphy is back dramatizing another famous murder case in Monster. For the first time, a woman is at the center of the frame: famous accused murderer Lizzie Borden.
In 1892, Borden was accused of gruesomely killing her father and stepmother with an axe. But, as with all murder cases, it’s not that simple. At the center is a complex family dynamic — one not so different from the The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, Murphy used as inspiration for season two of Monster. The Victorian set adds a level of spookiness to the story, but it’s Murphy’s flair that elevates this story for the next generation.
The show introduces actress Ella Beatty as the title’s suspected killer, which seemingly combines all of the pop culture interpretations of the Borden case. Of course, people find a female killer intriguing, so Borden’s story has served as inspiration for many, including a rock opera and the 2018 film Lizzie starring Chloë Sevigny and Kristen Stewart. These two works are woven into Murphy’s adaptation, too.
There were rumors of a budding romance between Lizzie and her family’s live-in maid, Bridget Sullivan. Murphy’s dramatization puts this love affair on full display as the women plot to murder Borden’s father and stepmother for how they treat Lizzie and her sister Emma.
Vicky Krieps portrays Bridget Sullivan, and the trailer gives us a peek into the incredible chemistry between her and Ella Beatty. Now, who plays the horrible parents, you ask? Charlie Hunnam portrays Andrew Borden and Rebecca Hall serves as Abby Borden. Billie Lourd also appears as Lizzie’s sister, Emma. Of course, Ryan Murphy had to make a role for his scream queen Sarah Paulson, who will play another murderer active around that time period.
Ryan Murphy knows how to put on a show — and Lizzie is no different. It will undoubtedly be over-the-top, but also a story about revenge. Who doesn’t love a little revenge? We sure love it.