Common Sense Media Review
By Megan Andersen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Murder, sexual abuse in Italian murder spree docudrama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Monster of Florence
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE is a limited series about eight couples brutally murdered in Florence, Italy. The show opens with a couple getting romantic in the backseat of a car, then being stalked and shot at close range. A female detective finds a clue that ties this 1982 murder to a series of others that have taken place over 17 years. After a transactional marriage and trying times for the couple, gruesome murders revolve around one family of problematic men.
Is It Any Good?
This docudrama is a scary slog that jumps between an awkward, arranged marriage and brutally creepy and voyeuristic murders. As more and more characters are introduced and the story fills out, the brutality ramps up making the Italian true crime series harder and harder to watch. In this Italian production, the nudity in The Monster of Florence goes up to "international" level and there are multiple scenes in which completely nude murder victims are dragged by their ankles, private parts akimbo, and then violently stabbed. The story, while based on true events, can be a bit hard to follow and really showcases the graphic violence of the murders, making The Monster of Florence difficult to get through.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the dynamic between Stefano and his wife after Salvatore comes to live with them. Stefano is incapable of standing up to Salvatore even when his wife, Barbara, is in danger, and he also wouldn't go looking for her when she tried to flee their wedding. What do you think that tells us about Stefano and about his wife? Do you think he's capable of snapping and acting so violently? What is your read on his character?
What were you first impressions of Salvatore and his brother Francesco? What red flags jump out at you? How do you and your family teach/identify red flags in your own life?
Anger and resentment are built up in key characters who have to repress who they are within the strict misogynistic Italian family. Can you think of other examples where there are extremely strict rules and people lash out with extreme behavior?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 22, 2025
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Family Stories , History
- TV rating :
- Last updated : November 14, 2025
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