It’s time to settle in for the fifth episode of our true crime season! While Sarah is dangerously underslept and Dan is recording through a case of Moroccan flu in a noisy Casablanca hotel room, we’ve found a way to joke about the monstrously dark 2003 film, Monster. This isn’t the Gareth Edwards sci-fi flick Dan was hoping for, but a gritty look at one of the most famous American serial killers, Aileen Wuornos. We dissect the chameleonic performance from Charlize Theron who avoided the trap of a mere impression to truly nail Wuornos’s mannerisms. Sticking with cast we discuss the rebellious era of Christina Ricci leading to her inclusion in Monster. We also look at some of the supporting cast including Bruce Dern, Lee Tergesen and Scott Wilson. Never missing an opportunity to discuss female directors, we dive into Patty Jenkins career and what we make of her trajectory from Monster to Wonder Woman. Planning every detail of her projects, Jenkins only commits to films she is truly passionate about which is showcased here in all its glory. Drawing on her own background in a military family, Jenkins infused the script with a deep understanding of PTSD, creating a sympathetic bridge between the characters of Aileen and the veteran, Thomas. What to expect from the episode: Sarah discusses her intense hyperfixation on Aileen Wuornos and her favourite documentaries on the case. Dan argues that the film feels less like a biopic and more like a vigilante origin story, making a bizarre comparison between Aileen Wuornos and Batman. Comparisons of abuse and neglect to the trauma suffered by veterans. We dive into the psychology of female serial killers and specifically here, the systematic failures that may have led to the tragic outcome. We discuss the ”nature versus nurture” argument and the ”childlike optimism” found in the film’s opening. Tangents and rabbit holes including trying to connect the cast to The Walking Dead and Wayne’s World. Would you like to see the full lineup for season 13? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don’t need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you do have some loose change consider signing up as a paid member. Our £3 a month Patreon tier will grant you access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-12 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month. Plus the back-catalogue of reviews from 2023, 2024 and 2025.  Enjoy the show but can’t support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you’re reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven’t given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It’s easy. If you’ve done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube