The real inspiration behind countless horror movies goes to Netflix

Ryan Murphy and Netflix combine to tell the story of one of the most infamous serial killers of all time, Ed Gein. This name may seem familiar to the Buffs of real crime. It is not as big as, let’s say, Ted Bundy, but “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” seeks to tell the story of this very influential individual. Gein’s real crimes have continued to inspire some of the greatest works of horror cinema ever, which the show is very leaning.

An unrecognizable Charlie Hunnam (“Sons of Anarchy”) embodies Ed Gein in this last edition of the anthology series “Monster”. The new trailer, which you can check above, offers it in action. Much of the imagery may seem familiar, including the skin used as a lampshade and the frightening way that gein calls to his mother. This is because Gein was used as inspiration for the characters of “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” by Tobe Hooper and “Psycho” by Alfred Hitchcock, as well as “The Silence of the Lambs” by Jonathan Demme.

For those who do not know Ed Gein, he admitted two murders that took place in the 1950s, admitting the responsibility of killing the owner of Bar Mary Hogan in 1954 and the owner of the hardware store Bernice Worden in 1957. He was suspected in several others, but was sentenced for the murder of Hogan. However, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Gein was also a serious thief who used human body parts to provide his house, especially using skulls like bowls. The co-creator of the Ian Brennan series, addressing Tudum, explained why the story of Gein was difficult:

“Ed Gein is quite obscure. It is this man who lived on a farm and who did not know many people, and you look at his descent into deep and deep madness, then finally to kill people. It seemed to be a big demand for a program that was very popular. Is it too much to ask a global audience?”

It was by realizing that the horror classics like “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” were inspired by Gein who gave Brennan and Murphy a way to tell the story. “There is something in this story that has really echoed the ages,” said Brennan. “It was then he clicked.”

In the trailer, we even hear Hitchcock’s voice, supplied by actor Tom Hollander. “What shocks you most at home?” Asks Hitchcock as the police searches Gein’s house. “How was his childhood?” The director pushes further. For all those who have seen “psycho”, it is not at all difficult to see how Gein influenced this classic seminal, based on the images of this trailer alone. There is a direct Ed Gein line to Norman Bates.

Nor is it difficult to see the influences between Gein and Buffalo Bill in “Silence of the Lambs”. Buffalo Bill was also inspired by killer Gary Heidnik, in addition to gein. And these are just the most popular examples. Gein’s crimes have continued to influence the kind of horror, both directly and indirectly, of countless ways. As Murphy explained to Tudum, he considers Gein as an incredibly influential figure beyond these few seminal feature films:

“”[Gein] is probably one of the most influential people of the 20th century, and yet people do not know much about him. He influenced some of the largest serial killers of the 20th century – which is another thing I think that people did not know and do not know for him – Ted Bundy, and so on. “”

“Monster: The Ed Gein Story” arrived in Netflix on October 3, 2025.