* "Psycho" by Robert Bloch (1959): While not explicitly based on Gein, Bloch drew inspiration from his crimes and personality to create the character of Norman Bates, the motel owner with a disturbed relationship with his mother. This book was adapted into the iconic Alfred Hitchcock film "Psycho" (1960).
* "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" by Kim Henkel and Tobe Hooper (1974): This film, written and directed by Henkel and Hooper, is more directly inspired by Gein, drawing from his practice of skinning his victims and using their body parts in his home. The character of Leatherface, the masked killer with a chainsaw, is a chilling reflection of Gein's crimes.
* "The Silence of the Lambs" by Thomas Harris (1988): While not directly inspired by Gein, the character of Hannibal Lecter, the cannibalistic psychiatrist, is inspired by real-life serial killers, including Gein. Lecter's taste for human flesh and his knowledge of the human body echo Gein's morbid fascination with death and anatomy.
It's important to note that these works are fictional interpretations of Gein's crimes and should not be taken as accurate portrayals of his life. However, their influence from Gein is undeniable and has contributed to the enduring fascination with his horrific story.