who was psycho based on

The movie "Psycho" was based on the 1959 novel of the same name by Robert Bloch, which was loosely inspired by the real-life criminal Ed Gein. Ed Gein was a notorious Wisconsin murderer and body snatcher known for his disturbing crimes, including exhuming corpses and creating household objects from human remains. The character Norman Bates in "Psycho" shares significant similarities with Gein, such as a troubled relationship with an oppressive mother and the act of impersonating her after her death. Alfred Hitchcock adapted Bloch's novel into the 1960 film "Psycho," which became iconic for its psychological horror and groundbreaking narrative techniques. In summary, "Psycho" was based on Robert Bloch's novel, which was inspired by the real- life crimes of Ed Gein.