8 Movies and Shows Inspired by Serial Killer Ed Gein

Viewers are on the edge of their seats watching Monster: The Ed Gein Story.

The third installment of the anthology series created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan explores the life and crimes of Ed Gein, (Charlie Hunnam). Otherwise known as the Butcher of Plainfield, Gein was a Wisconsin serial killer and grave robber who confessed to the murders of at least two women, though investigators later found the remains of 10 women in his home, per History.

Ahead of its release, Murphy told Tudum that it took him “a long time to land” on Gein as the subject of his third installment, noting that what he makes is “personal” to him. He later told the outlet that Gein’s impact on culture is part of what attracted him to the material.

“He is probably one of the most influential people of the 20th century, and yet people don’t know that much about him,” Murphy said, going on to explain that Gein “influenced” several other horror characters and films. Thus, although Monster: The Ed Gein Story is the most recent portrayal of the notorious serial killer, it isn’t the only one.

Here are eight series, films and documentaries about serial killer Ed Gein and his notorious crimes.

Psycho (1960)

Adapted from Robert Bloch’s 1959 novel of the same name and directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Psycho follows one of cinema’s most notorious horror figures, Norman Bates, and his disturbing fixation on “Mother.”

Bloch denied having used Gein as a basis for Bates, though said during a conversation at the World Horror Convention in 1991 that he used the serial killer’s “circumstances” as inspiration.

What’s more: Bloch and Hitchcock are portrayed in Monster: The Ed Gein Story by Ethan Sandler and Tom Hollander, respectively, as they dissect the serial killer’s crimes and channel them into the film, including casting Joey Pollari as Anthony Perkins‘ Bates.

Psycho is currently available to stream on Peacock.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

One of the most known Gein-inspired works is The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, which was released in 1974 and follows Leatherface — a character who wears masks made of human skin — and terrorizes victims alongside his cannibalistic family.

While the story plays out much differently, Leatherface is inspired by Gein and his real-life crimes. Director Tobe Hooper told The Flashback Files in 2015 that he grew up hearing stories from his relatives who lived in Wisconsin about an unnamed man who was “digging up graves and using the bones and skin in his house.”

“To me he was like a real boogeyman,” Hooper said.

In 2003, the film was remade into The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, starring Jessica Biel.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is available to stream on Tubi, while The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is available on Netflix.

Deranged (1974)

Released in 1974 and presented in the style of a true-crime documentary, Deranged follows Ezra Cobb (Roberts Blossom), an isolated farmer turned deadly grave robber in the wake of his mother’s death.

Deranged is available to stream on Prime Video.

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Another Gein-inspired film depicted in Monster: The Ed Gein Story is 1991’s The Silence of the Lambs, adapted from Thomas Harris’ 1988 novel of the same name. The movie follows young FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) as she interviews Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), hoping that the psychiatrist and cannibalistic murderer can help her track down serial killer Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine), who skins his female victims.

As depicted in Monster: The Ed Gein Story, Gein’s gruesome practice of creating clothing from human skin helped inspire Harris’ creation of Buffalo Bill.

The Silence of the Lambs is available to stream on HBO Max.

Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield (2007)

In Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield, Kane Hodder portrays the titular serial killer. The horror film follows the discovery of and investigation into Gein’s gruesome crimes.

Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield is available to stream on Prime Video.

Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein (2023)

Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein is an MGM+ original docuseries that delves into the Butcher of Plainfield’s haunting crimes, including archived footage and interviews with historians, forensic psychologists and more.

The four-part docuseries is available to watch on MGM+, or on Prime Video with an MGM+ trial.

Three on a Meathook (1972)

Released in 1972 and loosely inspired by Gein’s crimes, Three on a Meathook is a fictional horror film in which four girls’ car breaks down on their way home from a weekend getaway, leading them to spend the night at the farmhouse of a widowed man and his seemingly friendly, though actually troubled son.

Three on a Meathook is available to stream on Apple TV+.

FX’s American Horror Story: Asylum

The FX horror show has seen plenty of haunting villains and criminals, though Gein’s story comes through in American Horror Story: Asylum through Dr. Oliver Thredson (Zachary Quinto). Otherwise known as Bloody Face, Thredson’s murderous actions, including skinning victims, were motivated by his search for a mother figure after being abandoned as a child.

FX’s American Horror Story: Asylum is available to stream on Hulu and Prime Video.