1 of 2 | New episodes of “Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein” air Sunday nights. Image courtesy of MGM+
NEW YORK, Sept. 24 (UPI) — James Buddy Day reveals that his groundbreaking docuseries, Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein, offers fresh insights into the infamous 1950s serial killer and grave robber. Ed Gein’s horrific crimes served as the inspiration for iconic horror movie villains such as Norman Bates, Buffalo Bill, and Leatherface.
Every Sunday night on MGM+, viewers can listen to recently discovered and previously unheard audio recordings of Gein speaking to local officials on the night of his arrest. The series also presents dramatic black-and-white recreations of key moments from Gein’s life.
“What makes these tapes so extraordinary is that they allow you to truly grasp the essence of this man,” explained Day in an exclusive Zoom interview with UPI.
“You can hear the voice of a simple, unassuming farmer from the Midwest who is fully aware that he is a monster, yet unaware of why or how he became one. Through his conversations with authorities, he seeks insight into his own psyche.”
This four-part series delves into Gein’s upbringing in Wisconsin, marked by an abusive father and a controlling mother. As Gein grows up, he becomes a recluse and develops an obsession with gruesome pulp magazine stories. Eventually, he begins exhuming corpses from a local cemetery and utilizing women’s body parts to create macabre clothing and furniture.
Gein was convicted of murdering two women and is suspected of killing seven others. He passed away in a psychiatric facility in 1984 at the age of 77.
The heinous acts committed by Gein became the foundation for countless fictional movie villains, such as those in Psycho, The Silence of the Lambs, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and House of 1,000 Corpses.
Day emphasizes that Lost Tapes sets itself apart from previous accounts of Ed Gein’s gruesome crimes.
“It’s not just a retelling of the same old story,” he remarked with a laugh.
“When dealing with a historic narrative, especially one that has become ingrained in American culture, it’s important to provide a new perspective that both frightens and captivates the audience in a completely different way.”
The discovery of these tapes came as a revelation, even to seasoned professionals specializing in true crime.
“These aren’t interviews conducted by journalists ten or fifteen years later. They were recorded in real-time. On these tapes, you can hear the judge exclaim things like, ‘Oh my God, more heads were found at your house!'” Day shared.
“The search of his home and the revelations of his atrocities were unfolding during the interview. These tapes provide a window into the story of Ed Gein – a unique perspective that is unparalleled.”
Day admits that, often, it’s challenging to determine what material should make the final cut and what should be left out of a film or series. However, this was not the case for Lost Tapes.
“We left everything in!” the filmmaker declared. “One of the great advantages of streaming services is that there are no time constraints, allowing us to prioritize storytelling over platform limitations. In other series I’ve worked on, there would always be a ticking clock.”
MGM+ didn’t impose any restrictions regarding the number of episodes, duration, or format for the series.
“We had complete creative freedom,” Day shared. “Our focus was solely on delivering the most compelling story possible.”
Day, known for his work on Myth of the Zodiac Killer, Floribama Murders, Blumhouse’s Compendium of Horror, and Fall River, has a fascination with stories about “monsters in plain sight.”
“The common misconception is that serial killers resemble Hannibal Lecter from Silence of the Lambs or Patrick Bateman from American Psycho. People believe they are these malevolent supervillains,” Day explained.
“In reality, that’s not often the case. With advancements in familial DNA and geographic profiling, we now know that there are far more serial killers than we previously thought, and they can be hiding in ordinary individuals. This is what makes Ed Gein truly terrifying.”
According to Day, the rise in popularity of true crime documentaries, series, podcasts, and books is attributed to people’s desire to comprehend societal anomalies.
“In terms of human behavior, most individuals fall within the average range,” the filmmaker opined.
“However, at one extreme, you have exceptionally compassionate and altruistic people like the Dalai Lama, and at the other extreme, you have a small percentage of psychopaths who explore the darkest recesses of humanity.”
Day hopes that his true crime film and series prompt viewers to reflect on how society should handle individuals whose warped perspectives lead them to commit heinous crimes.
“When we uncover monsters like Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and John Wayne Gacy – along with countless other serial killers who have been brought into the public eye – we have to ask ourselves, ‘How should we deal with them?'” Day pondered.
“How should the justice system treat them? Does it make sense to keep them alive and interview them for academic insight? Should they be sentenced to death?
“There are numerous intriguing questions, all stemming from the fact that we don’t fully understand them. If my project can offer some insight, then I consider it a success.”
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
