Netflix fans warn 'don't watch alone' as they praise 'gripping' crime drama

Spooky season is officially here, and if you're in the mood for the perfect Halloween series to get you terrified, this new Netflix series will certainly help. The four-part crime drama focuses on the story of Italy's first modern serial killer, so it's bound to leave you scared. Titled The Monster of Florence, the series arrived on the platform in October and has had viewers talking nonstop, with some advising others not to watch the episodes on their own. The story focuses on the dubbed Il Mostro, who killed 16 people over 17 years from 1968 to 1985.

Apparently, the first episode opens with the brutal murder of two teenagers in a car park, which sets the overall scene for the series. The official synopsis teases: "Eight double murders. Seventeen years of terror. Always the same weapon. A .22 caliber Beretta. One of the longest and most complex Italian investigations into the first and most brutal serial killer in the country's history: The Monster of Florence.

"This story is based on ongoing legal proceedings and investigations. In a story where there have been many possible monsters, over time and investigations, our story focuses on them, the possible monsters, from their point of view. Because the monster, in the end, could be anyone."

Viewers who have already had a chance to watch the series have praised the episodes online, but many have also been left terrified. One person said on X: "If you don't mind dubbed over foreign films, check out "The Monster of Florence" on Netflix. What a wild story!"

A second also commented: "The streets of Italy are haunted once more in The Monster of Florence trailer. The chilling tale of Italy's first serial killer comes to Netflix, ready to terrorize a new generation. Don't watch alone."

A third person also typed: "I'm two episodes into Netflix's The Monster of Florence, and it's far and away the best true crime series of the last decade IMO. A clean procedural, and everything Ed Gein should have been. Make sure to watch in the original Italian w/ subtitles!"

A fourth also remarked: "Great cast, cinematography & BGM. Slow-paced but gripping." The show is also based on a true story. Three men have been charged over the years, but the killer's identity is still unknown.

All four episodes of The Monster of Florence are available to stream on Netflix now.