Til the movie psycho by alfred hitchcock is based on a. The residents of plainfield wisconsin were more than a little concerned when the owner of a local tavern disappeared in december 1955. The 1959 novel of which the film was based was loosely inspired by a true story that caught the attention of bloch. The shocking true story of the original psycho, a book about ed gein at. Its a little creepy to realize that some of our favorite horror movies might actually be based around real stories. The spotlight is on robert bloch, author of psycho, the novel which was the basis of alfred. There are nights when all we want to do is curl up in bed and watch a horror movie.
By then, however, ed gein had already achieved pop immortality, thanks to horror writer robert bloch, who had the inspired idea of creating a fictional character based on geina deranged mamas boy named norman bates. Between 1921 and 1976 the english director known as the master of suspense released 52 feature films, many of which are still thrilling new audiences today. Geins nightmarish story ingrained itself in american culture, and the. The character norman bates in psycho was loosely based on two people. There is no wall street obsessive psycho getting away with murder. These heartstopping horror movies based on true stories prove that sometimes the truth is much scarier than fiction. The true story behind alfred hitchcocks psycho for movie buffs alfred hitchcock will always be associated with a long list of hollywood classics. Norman bates is a fictional character created by american author robert bloch as the main antagonist in his 1959 thriller novel psycho. The 2 page book was published by rj parker publishing, inc. The shocking true story of ed gein, the original psycho tells you what you need to knowbefore or after you read harold schechters book. Til the movie psycho by alfred hitchcock is based on a true story.
For movie buffs alfred hitchcock will always be associated with a long list of hollywood classics. Robert bloch, author of the novel psycho, lived just 35 miles from. The shocking true story of the original psycho, a book about. She leaves her home in phoenix, arizona and ends up at the bates motel in fairvale, california. Few movies are more quotable than american psycho, the 2000 black satirical thriller from director mary harron and based on the controversial novel by bret easton ellis. The true story of ed gein, a wisconsin murderer who inspired psychos norman bates, texas chainsaw massacres leatherface and silence of. I usually love movies based on true story, but not this one. In 1960, alfred hitchcock transformed blochs pulp chiller, psycho, into a cinematic masterpiece. The original book cover was designed by tony palladino. Bloch writes better than any living scaremonger, incl steven king. Jan 17, 2017 psycho was based on the novel of the same name written by robert bloch. First was the reallife murderer ed gein, about whom bloch later wrote a fictionalized account, the shambles of ed gein, in 1962. The serpent and the rainbow is a loose adaptation of a nonfiction book by the same name. Gein lived less than fifty miles from blochs home in wisconsin and the man shared similarities with norman.
You can buy robert blochs novel on which the film is based on at. The true story behind alfred hitchcocks psycho absolute. Lifetime movie 2017 based on true story new africa. Dicaprios fans were barely old enough to read in 1991, when writer bret easton ellis shocked the literary world with american psycho. Although the character of norman bates seems far too crazy to be inspired by a real person, bates personality was loosely based on the notorious wisconsin murderer and grave robber ed gein. From the author of the librarian of basra comes a picture book based on the true story of wangari. The true story of ed gein, the inspiration for psychos norman bates. Id created resembled the real ed gein both in overt act and apparent motivation. The movie followed marion crane janet leigh, a secretary who encountered norman bates anthony perkins after staying at his familys motel. Ed gein the butcher of plainfield a story of the real. Apr 17, 2015 why longo chooses to use finkles identity was not so well explained.
Crafted and edited with care, worth books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a wellinformed reader. From the moment he acquired the books rights in 1992, pressman was determined not to finance. The author accredited serial killer ed gein as the basis for norman bates. Why longo chooses to use finkles identity was not so well explained.
We all love doing that, but what makes a scary movie scarier is knowing that it is based on a true story. In 1959, robert bloch captivated the nation with his novel psycho. From the moment he acquired the books rights in 1992, pressman was determined not to finance a film that was too offensive. The story of ed gein has had a lasting effect on american popular culture as evident by its numerous appearances in film, music, and literature. Oct 21, 2019 ed gein was a notorious killer and grave robber. Apr 19, 2017 thanks for watching and please subscribe. Did you know theres a true story behind the movie psycho. The most fascinating part of movie, however, is actually the real story behind it.
The movie was notably directed by the legendary alfred hitchcock, garnering him an academy award nomination for his work. Norman bates from psycho was inspired by reallife psycho ed. Psycho was based on the novel of the same name written by robert bloch. Was the 1960 horror film, psycho, based on a true story. The novel is considered as being blochs most enduring work and one of the most influential horror books of the 20th. Bloch had already begun work on the book as details about the murders emerged.
Have you ever read books that were so unbelievable and then you found out they were based on a true story. You can buy alfred hitchcock and the making of psycho at. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. The true story of luka magnotta by cara lee carter. The true story behind alfred hitchcocks psycho absolute crime. If his story is just about one axehappy serial killer, its a horror story. Introduction for movie buffs alfred hitchcock will always be associated with a long list of hollywood classics.
The character of norman bates in hitchcocks psycho was. Many of these episodes were adaptations of his own pulp fiction stories. Sometimes based on a true story means this could happen to you. This book mentions 1 serial killers including william patrick fyfe. The backstory to robert blochs psycho galaxy press. First was the reallife murderer ed gein, about whom bloch later wrote a fictionalized. The spotlight is on robert bloch, author of psycho, the novel which was the basis of. The nook book ebook of the summary and analysis of deviant. See more ideas about books, true stories and childrens books. The events in the movie was inspired by the serial killer ed gein. Psycho is the size of a short story, doesnt take long to read, but will stay with you for life. Long story short, it takes a great literary work to withstand the effect that cultural awareness can have on a reader already familiar with the story, and blochs psycho easily withstands this test.
Lifetime movie 2017 based on true story new africa american. But if so, the story loses some its satirical edge. Mar 14, 20 before norman went psycho, there was bates motel. Psycho for instance is apparently based on the story of ed gein, as described.
Jan 12, 2019 by then, however, ed gein had already achieved pop immortality, thanks to horror writer robert bloch, who had the inspired idea of creating a fictional character based on geina deranged mamas boy named norman bates. Horror movies are freaky enough asis, but horror movies based on true stories are straightup spinetingling. The tale first came to widespread public attention in the fictionalized version presented by robert bloch in his 1959 suspense novel, psycho. The shocking true story of ed gein, the original psycho schechter, harold on. It is based on the book of the same name, written by robert bloch, which, in turn, was loosely based on the true story. Based on a true story, published in french about three years ago, sold half a million copies, inspired a film by roman polanski, won several prizes, and purportedly became an international sensation. Hitchcock did wonders with robert blochs story, but the book is creepy in another way. Psycho s story, adapted from a 1959 book of the same name, is based loosely on the real world murderer ed gein, whose fixation on his mother and other qualities are mirrored in the. The book is set between the events of the original novel and psycho ii, recounting the events which took place in a. The character of norman bates in hitchcocks psycho was inspired. Deviant is a gripping story of true crime, an investigation into the history and mind of ed gein, one of americas most notorious serial killers and the inspiration for psycho, texas chainsaw massacre, silence of the lambs, and of course slayers dead skin mask. The true story behind alfred hitchcocks psycho pdf and epub.
Ellis meant for american psycho to be an exploration of what was going wrong with him, and the culture around him, in the 1980s. Marion crane janet leigh, women in love, searching for a way to free her boyfriend from the shackles of debt and secure herself a husband. Robert bloch wrote the novel in 1959 and alfred hitchcock adapted it for. Checkout the new house of horrors tshirt for sale now. The story of geins gruesome activities, particularly his devotion to a dead mother, strongly influenced robert blochs 1959 novel psycho, which was adapted to the big screen the following year by. A most terrifying mamas boy he was like the boy next door if the boy next door never left his house and took up taxidermy as a hobby. His activities inspired the creation of some of hollywoods most infamous characters, including norman bates of psycho. If youve seen the film but never read the book, you owe it to yourself to give it a shot. Norman bates character was based on 50s serial killer. The true story that inspired norman bates screen rant. The book is a true story and the movie is based on the book. Gein was a murderer and body snatcher from wisconsin, whose murders matched those of norman bates.
His stomachchurning tale of a yuppie madman with a tendency to mutilate his dates was also was a clever, comically exaggerated satire of 80s materialism and conformity. The novel tells the story of norman bates, caretaker at an isolated motel who struggles under his domineering mother and becomes embroiled in a series of murders. Psychos story, adapted from a 1959 book of the same name, is based loosely on the real world murderer ed gein, whose fixation on his mother and other qualities are mirrored in the. But while the director was inspired by blochs book, the writer was inspired by the reallife story of ed gein, a psychotic murderer, grave robber. The film itself was based on the 1959 novel of the same name by author robert bloch. Oct 15, 2017 theres nothing the lifetime network loves more than taking real stories and transforming them into pulpy thrillers, but is their latest, psycho inlaw based on a true story. The texas chainsaw massacre is loosely based on the plainfield crimes. Geins nightmarish story ingrained itself in american culture, and the seemingly. Psycho has often been considered one of the first installments in the slasher genre. Jan 12, 2012 was american psycho based on a true story. This book tells the chilling true story behind of the movie. Psycho is a 1959 thriller novel by american writer robert bloch.
When i read based on true story at the beginning, i thought the movie would be stupid, but then i couldnt get the witch out of my mind. Norman bates documentary serial killer psycho silence of the lambs real story. The shocking true story of ed gein, the original psycho. These are the 31 best scary movies based on or inspired by real events. It is based on the book of the same name, written by robert bloch, which, in turn, was loosely based on the true story of serial. It turns out that norman bates of psycho fame was actually based on real murderer ed gein. Theres nothing the lifetime network loves more than taking real stories and transforming them into pulpy thrillers, but is their latest, psycho inlaw based on a true story.