10 Horror Movie Villains You Didn't Know Were Based On Real-Life Monsters

This Hitchcock classic is a must-see for any horror fans. Norman Bates, a schizoid with unbelievable mommy issues, runs a creepy motel with his overbearing and impossible-to-please parent. Marion Crane, who was on the run to meet her boyfriend, made the unfortunate decision to spend the night at the Bates Motel. [Insert famous shower stabbing scene here].

Crane didn’t stand a chance against Mother. Norman, ever the dutiful son, cleaned up the crime scene and dumped Marion’s body. In search of “missing” Marion, various loved ones stop by the macabre motel. A few murders later, the film's final twist is one of the most iconic and disturbing in cinematic history, but what about human history?

As it turns out, Norman isn’t the first man to mummify his mother. Ed Gein, who inspired a slew of other villains (most notably Leatherface of Texas Chainsaw Massacre fame), collected humans like trophies. Known as the Butcher of Plainfield, Gein had the nasty habit of killing people and body snatching to furnish clothing and home goods out of their skin, hair, bones, teeth, etc. Gein's fervently religious mother, who, like Norman’s, constantly preached the dangers of all womankind (save them, of course), was his whole life.

When she died, he did the next best thing: Collect enough human skin to make a “woman suit” and literally become his mother. How’s that for mommy issues?