Brace Yourself for a Dark New Series!
We’ll admit it—there’s something irresistible about crime shows that blend real‑life horror with a spine‑tingling atmosphere. Luckily for us (and for you), Netflix is delivering another dose of that unsettling flavor. The Monster of Florence is the platform’s latest cold‑case drama, chronicling the reign of terror inflicted by the infamous Italian killer dubbed “Il Mostro di Firenze.” Spanning the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s, this gritty limited series is definitely not for the faint‑hearted.
What the Four‑Episode Series Covers
The mini‑series dives deep into a criminal saga that haunted Italy for 17 harrowing years. Over that period the perpetrator carried out eight double murders, earning a reputation as the country’s first modern serial killer—yet his identity remains a mystery. The show starts at the very first police inquiry and reconstructs one of the most intricate and disputed investigations in Italian criminal history.
Quick Facts You’ll Want to Know
Format: Four‑part Italian crime drama (available with English dubbing)
Premise: A dramatized retelling of the decades‑long hunt for “Il Mostro di Firenze,” widely considered Italy’s inaugural serial killer.
Timeline: Late‑1960s through mid‑1980s
Modus Operandi: The assassin stalked young couples parked in secluded spots on the outskirts of Florence, using a .22‑calibre Beretta pistol and often mutilating the female victims.
Real‑World Basis: The series pulls from authentic testimonies, court transcripts, and archival material, painting a vivid portrait of the national panic the killings provoked.
Netflix’s official description calls the story “one of the longest and most complex Italian investigations into the first—and most brutal—serial killer in the nation’s modern history.” It adds that the narrative is built on ongoing legal proceedings, focusing on the many possible suspects and suggesting that, in the end, “the monster could be anyone.”
The Case in Context
The Florence murderer is frequently likened to America’s Zodiac Killer because of the case’s length and the enduring mystery surrounding it. From 1968 onward, 16 victims—mostly young lovers seeking privacy in parked cars—were slain. Despite countless leads—including farmers, members of secret societies, and even alleged satanic cults—no definitive perpetrator has ever been identified. Over the years, several men were arrested and later released due to insufficient evidence, and theories ranging from a single mastermind to multiple copy‑cat killers only muddied the waters further.
Behind the Camera
Director Stefano Sollima immersed himself in the labyrinthine case for more than a year. He explained his approach: “True horror must be confronted, not ignored. To tell this story with clarity, we had to begin at the very beginning, without imposing a predetermined thesis. Our aim is to recount events with honesty, respect, and rigor—not to solve the mystery, but to remember it and stay close to those who were lost in the night.”
Cast Highlights:
Marco Bullitta
Valentino Mannias
Francesca Olia
Liliana Bottone
Giacomo Fadda
Antonio Tintis
Giordano Mannu
When to Watch
The Monster of Florence drops on Netflix on Wednesday, 22 October. The series will be presented in four episodes, each delving deeper into the unsettling saga of Italy’s most notorious unsolved serial killings.
Prepare yourself for a haunting, meticulously researched portrait of a case that still chills Italy to this day. If you crave crime dramas that blend factual dread with cinematic tension, this one is a must‑watch—just remember, it’s not for the faint‑hearted.
