Ep 5. Looks Can Kill

In season four of American Monster, episode five, we continue to explore the dark side of humanity and the monstrous deeds committed by those closest to us. This episode, titled "Looks Can Kill," takes us into the world of a charming and attractive young couple who seem to have it all: good looks, a successful business, and a beautiful home. But behind the facade of their perfect life lies a web of deceit, jealousy, and violence that eventually leads to murder.

The episode begins with a glimpse into the lives of Paul and Linda Curry. Paul is a successful businessman who owns multiple car dealerships, while Linda is a former beauty queen and mother of their two young children. To the outside world, they appear to be the perfect family, but in reality, their marriage is falling apart. Linda has grown increasingly insecure about her looks and suspects that Paul is having an affair with one of his employees.

Things come to a head when Linda discovers that Paul has been cheating on her with a much younger woman named Bree. In a fit of rage, Linda confronts Bree at her workplace and threatens to ruin her if she doesn't stay away from her husband. Bree is terrified and tells Paul about the encounter, but he dismisses it as just another one of Linda's jealous outbursts.

In the days following the confrontation, strange things start to happen. Bree receives threatening messages and phone calls, and someone breaks into her apartment and smashes all of her belongings. She becomes convinced that Linda is behind the harassment, but again, Paul refuses to believe her.

The tension between the three of them reaches a boiling point when Paul invites both women to a business event. Linda uses the opportunity to publicly humiliate Bree, calling her a "slut" and accusing her of trying to steal Paul away. Bree runs out of the event in tears, but Paul remains oblivious to the seriousness of the situation.

It's not until later that night, when Bree is found dead in her apartment, that Paul realizes his mistake. The evidence points to Linda as the killer, and she is eventually convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Paul is left to pick up the pieces of his shattered life and wonder how he could have been so blind to the monster living right beside him.

As with every episode of American Monster, "Looks Can Kill" is a disturbing and thought-provoking look at the twisted side of human nature. It serves as a reminder that sometimes the people we think we know best are the ones capable of the worst atrocities.