Jasmine Singh

Weather has pretty much changed in Canada; well, let's just say not for good. Darkness seeps in fast, and sometimes this darkness gets to your mind, leaving you unsure of what to do. Here, I was staged by this darkness, and then in dark crevices, I found a limited web series about the first serial killer of Italy.

Thus, director Stefano Sollima’s four-part examination of Italy’s notorious “Mostro di Firenze” murders, which left a trail of 16 dead bodies between 1968 and 1985, can only hint strongly at the identity of the perpetrator. The individual in question vanished in 1988, and no further murders subsequently took place. Sollima’s ambitions reach beyond the mere gruesome nuts and bolts of the murders themselves, which mostly involved young couples being ambushed while “making out” in cars in secluded, remote locations in the Florence area. The bodies were subsequently mutilated, the females in particularly stomach-turning fashion.

The series is both holy and dark, illustrating how killers possess a tweaked mind. As the director shifts the story across different time frames, it’s interesting to see how it all stitches together. One thing I always do is watch films in their original language with subtitles on, and this case was no different.

"Monster of Florence" is a compelling watch for anyone who feels drawn to the darkness, but remember: beyond this darkness, there is always light. This series not only delves into the horrific crimes but also poses profound questions about the societal conditions that allow such evil to manifest.