The True Story of Leatherface

Did you know the terrifying figure of Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre isn't just

a figment of twisted imagination? His horrifying origins are rooted in real-life terror.

The inspiration for Leatherface, and indeed much of the film's macabre atmosphere,

comes from one of America's most infamous serial killers, Ed Gein. Gein,

a Wisconsin recluse, was known for exhuming corpses from local cemeteries, using their skin

and bones to create grotesque household items and clothing. This chilling practice of wearing human

skin directly inspired the masked persona of Leatherface, who uses the faces of his

victims as macabre disguises. While Gein didn't use a chainsaw, the film amplified