The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was inspired in real life primarily by the notorious serial killer Ed Gein. Gein, known as the "Butcher of Plainfield," was infamous for his grave robbing, murder, and making masks and furniture out of human skin. Though he did not use a chainsaw in his crimes, his bizarre and gruesome acts, such as wearing human skin masks, directly influenced the character Leatherface in the film. The filmmaker Tobe Hooper credited Ed Gein and Elmer Wayne Henley as inspirations for the horror story and character of Leatherface. Gein's crimes shocked the nation in the 1950s and served as the real-life basis for several horror villains, including Norman Bates from "Psycho" and Buffalo Bill from "The Silence of the Lambs".
Elmer Wayne Henley was also cited as an influence, as he was involved in a series of murders in Texas that contributed to some elements of the story, though Ed Gein remains the primary real-life figure behind the Texas Chainsaw Massacre inspiration.
In summary, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre is not a direct retelling of a single true story but draws heavily on Ed Gein's terrifying real-life crimes to create the fictional horror legend Leatherface.
