TV Shows and Movies Inspired by Ed Gein: From Psycho to American Horror Story
Ed Gein’s infamous acts are the centerpiece of the third season of Ryan Murphy’s Monster. However, this isn’t the first television show or film that draws inspiration from the notorious serial killer.
The inaugural season of Monster premiered in 2022, featuring Evan Peters in the role of Jeffrey Dahmer, widely referred to as the Milwaukee Cannibal or the Milwaukee Monster. The second season delved into the 1989 arrests of Lyle Menendez (Nicholas Chavez) and Erik Menendez (Cooper Koch) for the murder of their parents.
Monster: The Ed Gein Story, which aired in October 2025, spotlighted Gein’s heinous acts. Dubbed the “Butcher of Plainfield,” Gein was found guilty of first-degree murder and confessed to a second killing in the 1950s.
There are suspicions that Gein was responsible for several additional crimes in his hometown of Plainfield, Wisconsin. He also admitted to exhuming numerous graves and creating macabre mementos from the remains.
“To portray a character with such horrifying actions, you must possess immense love and empathy for them. Even though Ed’s acts were despicable, I aimed to find his humanity,” Charlie Hunnam shared with Variety regarding his role as Gein. “I dislike confronting the darker aspects of human nature.”
He added: “I am aware some might accuse me of being overly compassionate towards him, perhaps excusing his actions too readily. My goal was to breathe life into Gein in the most authentic and human manner possible, despite not fully grasping the appeal of such narratives.”
Prior to Murphy choosing Gein for Monster, he inspired various films such as The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Psycho. Continue reading for a list of pop culture projects where Gein served as a source of inspiration for fictional serial killers:
‘Psycho’
Gein’s influence is evident in Robert Bloch’s 1959 novel Psycho, which features Norman Bates — a character inspired by Gein. The story was brought to life by Alfred Hitchcock, focusing on Bates’ obsession with his deceased mother and grave robbing. Initially portrayed by Anthony Perkins in Hitchcock’s version and later by Vince Vaughn in 1998’s Psycho, the character was also played by Freddie Highmore in the Bates Motel series, with Joey Pollari taking on the role in Monster.
‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’
The character Leatherface, central to the Texas Chain Saw Massacre films, is infamous for wielding a chainsaw. Disturbing elements of Gein’s crimes helped shape Leatherface as a masked murderer.
‘The Silence of the Lambs’
Buffalo Bill from The Silence of the Lambs is depicted as a serial killer who entices, kidnaps, and skins women — behavior that aligns closely with Gein’s notorious actions.
‘Con Air’
Garland Greene (portrayed by Steve Buscemi) is feared among his fellow inmates due to his gruesome killings. Con Air drew from Gein’s story to enhance Garland’s menacing on-screen persona.
‘American Horror Story: Asylum’
In the second season of Murphy’s American Horror Story, Dr. Oliver Thredson, also known as Bloody Face (Zachary Quinto), showcased a terrifying collection of items created from human remains, a concept directly linked to Gein.
‘Monster: The Ed Gein Story’
The third segment of Murphy’s scripted true crime series starred Hunnam as Gein, while further examining how the serial killer has permeated American pop culture.
