Kankakee, IL – Netflix subscribers across Central Illinois will see familiar streets take on a gruesome role this week as Monster: The Ed Gein Story premieres Friday, October 3. The third installment of Ryan Murphy’s hit anthology series transforms the real-life crimes of Wisconsin killer Ed Gein into a dramatized true crime drama — and much of it was filmed in Momence, Saunemin, and other Illinois towns.
According to Netflix and local reports, production crews spent several weeks in downtown Momence, refitting storefronts along East Washington Street and the city’s historic core into a 1950s-era backdrop. Vintage cars lined the streets, and signs for long-gone drugstores and shops reappeared, drawing curious onlookers. Residents spotted film crews and actors, including Charlie Hunnam, who plays Gein, dressed in period costume.
Why Momence and Saunemin?
The show’s creative team chose Momence and the nearby village of Saunemin, about an hour’s drive away, because their architecture and small-town look matched the Plainfield, Wisconsin, setting of Gein’s crimes. Scenes were also shot in Woodstock, Pullman in Chicago, and Los Angeles, California. The Florence Hotel in Pullman served as another backdrop, while Momence’s downtown became the series’ centerpiece.
This marks a significant cultural moment for Kankakee County, where residents are now seeing their streets showcased in a global streaming series that follows the acclaimed Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.
Who Was Ed Gein?
Before serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Gacy, and Ted Bundy dominated headlines, there was Ed Gein — often called the “Butcher of Plainfield.”
Born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1906, Gein grew up under the strict control of his mother, Augusta, who was deeply religious and taught him that most people were sinful. The family later moved to an isolated farm in Plainfield, Waushara County. By most accounts, Gein lived a quiet, reclusive life — until the shocking discoveries of 1957.
Authorities arrested Gein in November of that year after the disappearance of Bernice Worden, a local hardware store owner. Worden’s son discovered blood in the store and alerted police, who found Gein had purchased antifreeze from her the night before. When they arrived at Gein’s farm, officers uncovered Worden’s mutilated body hanging inside a shed — along with grisly trophies, including body parts, skulls, and household items fashioned from human remains.
Gein admitted to killing Worden and another woman, Mary Hogan, who had gone missing three years earlier. He also confessed to exhuming corpses from local cemeteries, using body parts to craft disturbing artifacts. Though linked to only two confirmed murders, his crimes horrified the nation.
Ed Gein’s Lasting Influence
Gein was declared unfit for trial and spent the rest of his life in psychiatric institutions, dying in 1984 at the age of 77. But his legacy endured far beyond Plainfield. His crimes directly inspired fictional killers in films like Psycho (Norman Bates), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (Leatherface), and The Silence of the Lambs (Buffalo Bill).
Netflix’s new dramatization brings Gein’s story back into focus, with actor Charlie Hunnam portraying the infamous killer. The season examines not only his crimes but also the cultural obsession with Gein, who became a blueprint for America’s fascination with the “disturbed murderer” archetype.
Illinois on Screen
For Central Illinois communities, the show is also a spotlight moment. In Momence, storefronts like Jensen Jewelry were repainted to replicate a mid-century look, while residents gathered to watch crews film. In Saunemin, the historic Saunemin Tap was reportedly used for a sequence tied to the storyline.
Local business owners say the filming generated a buzz and small economic boost as production crews filled hotels and restaurants during their stay. For many, it was a surreal experience to see Hollywood-level cameras and lighting equipment along their normally quiet streets.
A National Story with Local Roots
While the real-life Ed Gein crimes happened in Wisconsin, the choice to film extensively in Illinois ties the Midwest together in telling one of America’s most infamous true crime stories. For Kankakee County residents, the series is not just another Netflix drop — it’s a moment where their communities become part of cultural history.
“People are going to watch this show all over the world and see our town,” one Momence resident told local outlets during filming. “It’s eerie, but also exciting.”
Streaming Details
Monster: The Ed Gein Story begins streaming worldwide on Friday, October 3, 2025, only on Netflix. The series continues Murphy’s formula of spotlighting notorious true crime cases, following the success of Season 1 on Jeffrey Dahmer and Season 2 on John Wayne Gacy.
With Central Illinois towns taking center stage, the chilling new season offers both a disturbing history lesson and a striking reminder that Hollywood often finds its best settings in small Midwestern streets.
