10 Shows Like The Monster of Florence You Must See

‘The Monster of Florence’ or ‘Il mostro’ is an Italian crime drama series that chronicles a series of brutal killings in Florence over a seventeen-year period. The unknown killer, dubbed “The Monster,” mercilessly targets young couples in cars. As the body count rises, the police are drawn into a complex investigation, which is explored through the perspectives of various characters directly and indirectly involved with the brutality.

Created by Leonardo Fasoli and Stefano Sollima, the show, set in Italy from the 1950s to the 1980s, delves into the killer’s targeting of women and potential motivations. It unearths years of secrets, deception, and violence as law enforcement and other parties strive to uncover the killer’s identity. Ultimately, it examines themes of identity, social norms, liberty, and justice. If the complex mysteries, twisted characters, and the visual style of the narrative impressed you, these shows, similar to ‘The Monster of Florence,’ will be worthy of your time.

10. Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)

Created by Dustin Lance Black, FX’s ‘Under the Banner of Heaven’ deals with the ups and downs in the life of a religious police detective named Jeb Pyre (Andrew Garfield). His belief in religion and his philosophical opinions are greatly challenged when he begins to investigate the killing of a woman named Brenda Wright Lafferty (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and her little daughter. As he realizes that there could be a potential involvement of the religious individuals belonging to the Latter-day Saints Church, the detective finds it difficult to separate his personal and professional lives due to questions of faith.

As he tries to get to the truth, horrific mysteries and truths lurk in the shadows. Based on the eponymous book by Jon Krakauer, the crime drama series navigates the ideas of violence, family, loyalty, and survival. It bears resemblance to ‘The Monster of Florence’ and its character due to its portrayal of investigations, obsessive individuals, and the complex nature of truth.

9. Des (2020)

‘Des’ chronicles happenings in 1983 around the police department of Scotland Yard. The cops discover human remains, which end up blocking the drainage of a particular residence in London. This leads to puzzling questions about the origins and the mystery behind this unusual occurrence in an urban area. As the questions linger, a shocking angle comes to light. Signs point towards a man named Dennis Nilsen (David Tennant), who could possibly be a serial killer, and the reason behind the blockage of the sewers. As the cops begin to investigate Dennis, the truth seems to be horrifying. The British crime drama series created by Lewis Arnold and Luke Neal is based on Brian Masters’ book ‘Killing for Company,’ and deals with violence and suspense. Akin to ‘The Monster of Florence,’ it deals with the complexities of the criminal psyche, the motivation for murder, and the difficulties faced by law enforcement.

8. The Chestnut Man (2021)

Netflix’s ‘The Chestnut Man’ or ‘Kastanjemanden’ traces a serial killer who leaves behind figurines made of chestnuts at each crime scene. Detectives Naia Thulin (Danica Curcic) and Mark Hess (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard) must race against time to catch the perpetrator before more lives are lost. The investigation takes unexpected turns, especially when a politician’s child goes missing. Created by Dorte Warnøe Hagh, the Danish crime thriller series takes a deep dive into the human mind and its capacity for violence. Based on the eponymous book by Søren Sveistrup, it also looks at the idea of obsessive investigation. As the cops try to find the killer, they face unexpected challenges. It shares ideas of serial killings and gender-based violence seen in ‘The Monster of Florence.’ Both stories look at the motivations behind becoming a dangerous killer.

7. In Plain Sight (2016)

‘In Plain Sight,’ written by Nick Stevens, deals with murders in Lanarkshire, Scotland, over a two-year span. Eight individuals, including children, are brutally murdered by a killer dubbed the “Beast of Birkenshaw.” The lead investigator, Detective Inspector William Muncie (Douglas Henshall), believes Peter Manuel (Martin Compston) is the one responsible for these horrific acts. But, after spending nine years in prison and being released only recently, Manuel seems to be an enigmatic figure who somehow outsmarts the cops. Faced with a lack of evidence, the detective must push his limits in order to get to the truth of the matter. Due to its portrayal of serial killings, difficult investigations, and the idea of justice, the British drama series based on the case of Peter Manuel resembles ‘The Monster of Florence’ and its characters.

6. Manhunt (2019-2021)

‘Manhunt’ deals with the happenings in the life of Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton (Martin Clunes), who takes a look at the death of a young French woman in London. As he digs deeper into the intriguing case, he realizes that a serial killer may be active in the city and could pose greater dangers. In the second season, he investigates the actions of a serial rapist and deals with the challenges posed by this mission. Based on the memoirs of Colin Sutton, the British crime drama series written by the aforementioned author and Ed Whitmore takes a look at complex characters. Like ‘The Monster of Florence,’ it deals with a true story and also features a portrayal of suspense around serial killers.

5. The Pembrokeshire Murders (2021)

‘The Pembrokeshire Murders’, created by Nick Stevens, follows the complex journey undertaken by officer Steve Wilkins (Luke Evans), who gets a promotion at work. Following this, he unexpectedly finds himself in a difficult scenario when he reopens two unsolved murder cases from the 1980s. Forensic evidence links these crimes to a series of local robberies, and the protagonist and his team must race against time to find the perpetrator before they are freed from prison. Based on ‘The Pembrokeshire Murders: Catching the Bullseye Killer’ by Steve Wilkins, the crime drama series examines the effect of crime on society. Similar to ‘The Monster of Florence’, it is based on real events and offers a deeper understanding of the minds of criminals. Both shows deal with the efforts of the cops to pursue cold cases relentlessly.

4. Black Bird (2022)

In Apple TV+’s ‘Black Bird,’ James Keene (Taron Egerton), facing a 10-year sentence, makes a dangerous deal with the FBI, which could be the difference between life and death. He agrees to infiltrate a maximum-security prison and purposefully befriend suspected serial killer Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser). His main aim is to cleverly get a confession from the accused to ensure that he is punished and does not walk free. Based on James Keene’s autobiographical novel ‘In with the Devil: a Fallen Hero, a Serial Killer, and a Dangerous Bargain for Redemption,’ it examines deception. Created by Dennis Lehane, the crime drama series, akin to ‘The Monster of Florence,’ looks at the psychological aspects of criminals and the complexities faced by law enforcement officers in dealing with them.

3. The Fall (2013-2016)

Set in Belfast, Allan Cubitt’s creation, ‘The Fall,’ explores the complex investigations surrounding numerous murders. The Irish-British crime drama series chronicles the journey of Detective Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson), a police officer brought in to aid a murder case, leading her on an unyielding pursuit of a serial killer. As she investigates deeper, the protagonist faces unexpected challenges and threats that could jeopardize her survival. Similar to ‘The Monster of Florence,’ the show created by Allan Cubitt examines the reasoning behind violence and its consequences on those investigating dangerous crime. Both shows feature female police officers looking to solve complex cases.

2. Mindhunter (2017-2019)

Set in the 1970s, Netflix’s ‘Mindunter’ chronicles the ups and downs in the lives of Agent Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff), who is a part of the FBI’s Behavioral Sciences Unit, and senior agent Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), who is his boss. The two men deal with difficult questions as they see that unusual killings are taking place in the US, which don’t fit the pattern of regular crimes. As new kinds of killers emerge, it falls on the shoulders of the main characters to interview dangerous convicted killers to better understand the criminal psyche. Created by Joe Penhall, it examines the element of fear and criminal psychology. Based on the book ‘Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit’ by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker, it examines the motivations behind murder in ways similar to ‘The Monster of Florence’. The psychological crime drama series is also based on real events, which connects the two shows on a greater level.

1. The Serpent (2021)

BBC One’s ‘The Serpent’ follows the life of notorious serial killer Charles Sobhraj (Tahar Rahim), who becomes a major threat in the 1970s. He targets vulnerable tourists in the regions surrounding Bangkok, often drugging them and then stealing from them. He takes their identity cards and creates fake profiles to travel internationally, while also targeting young victims. In this perilous journey, he is accompanied by his lover Marie-Andrée Leclerc (Jenna Coleman) as he tries to illegally sell stolen goods. Dubbed “The Serpent,” he gets challenged when a Dutch diplomat named Herman Knippenberg starts to look into his various crimes. Written by Richard Warlow and Toby Finlay, the British crime drama series delves into ideas of courage, justice, and violence. It bears resemblance to ‘The Monster of Florence’ due to its look at an enigmatic serial killer, and the way he eludes cops. Both shows feature characters who obsess over the apprehension of a dangerous murderer, which establishes a spiritual connection between them.