Press Release: MGM+ has picked up the four-episode true-crime docuseries Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein, directed and executive produced by James Buddy Day (Blumhouse’s Compendium of Horror, Fall River). It will premiere on MGM+ in September. The original docuseries follows the horrifying grave robber and serial killer Ed Gein, otherwise known as “The Plainfield Ghoul” and “The Mad Butcher,” whose crimes inspired such iconic films as Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Silence of the Lambs.
For years, filmmakers, journalists, and scholars have tried to unravel the mind of this notorious killer, and with new reveals and never-before-heard recordings, viewers will be transported to late-1950s Middle America and submerged in Gein’s perverse mind. The series explores Gein’s upbringing and twisted relationship with his mother (which famously inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho), his early grave robbing, the murders leading up to his arrest, and the police’s discovery of his terrifying house of horrors—all accompanied by the brand-new revelations revealed in the recordings.
“This gripping and disturbing docuseries shines a light on an infamous chapter in our true-crime history,” said Michael Wright, head of MGM+. “Psycho takes an in-depth look at not only the life of one of the most notorious serial killers of our time, but also explores the impact his crimes had on both the victims and our culture.”
Jill Latiano Howerton and Josh Kunau also serve as executive producers for Roots Productions. Amazon & MGM Studios Distribution will distribute the series internationally.
About Roots Productions
Roots Productions is a film and television production company dedicated to creating premium non-scripted and scripted content across a variety of platforms. Founded in 2019 by Jill Latiano Howerton and Joshua Kunau, their award-winning films have screened theatrically, across all major distribution platforms and premiered at nearly every major film festival, including Sundance, Berlin, Telluride, Toronto, and SXSW. Their collective credits include DIVE! Living off America’s Waste, GMO OMG, Under the Gun, The Devil We Know, The Biggest Little Farm, and most recently The Thief Collector. Roots both develops and produces original content as well as collaborates with established and emerging filmmakers to bring their stories to life. They currently have multiple films and series in various stages of development and production.
About Pyramid Productions Inc
Pyramid Productions is an award-winning production company, and leader in true crime, led by acclaimed director/showrunner James Buddy Day. Day and Pyramid’s widely recognized works include Dangerous Breed: Crime. Cons. Cats. (Peacock/Blumhouse/WWE), Look Into My Eyes (AMC/Blumhouse), Blumhouse’s Compendium of Horror (MGM/Blumhouse), Fall River (MGM+/Blumhouse, CrimeCon CLUE Award for Best Docuseries 2022), The Anarchists (HBO/Blumhouse), What Happened, Brittany Murphy? (HBO Max/Blumhouse/ Pyramid Productions, nominated for HCA award for Best Streaming Docuseries), the Oxygen series, Florida Man Murders (Blumhouse/Man vs. Robot), Catching a Serial Killer: Bruce McArthur (Peacock Alley Ent, Canadian Screen Award winner for Best Documentary 2022), The Disappearance of the Millbrook Twins, The Lovers Lane Murders, and The Disappearance of the Susan Cox Powell (Texas Crew Productions), and Manson: The Women (Glass Entertainment).
About MGM+
MGM+, an Amazon company, is a premium linear channel and streaming service delivering a broad lineup of quality original series and docuseries, the latest movie releases, and classic film franchises—all available in the U.S. on TV, on-demand, online, and across devices. MGM+ is a destination for original premium content, with original series including sci-fi horror series FROM; Emmy-winning series Godfather of Harlem; the Western adventure Billy the Kid; and cinematic dramatic series A Spy Among Friends, War of the Worlds, Rogue Heroes, and Belgravia. The network is also the home of acclaimed docuseries, including Emmy-nominated Laurel Canyon, Helter Skelter, Slow Burn, My Life as a Rolling Stone, NFL Icons, and Murf the Surf. Premium movies are also available, including Top Gun: Maverick, No Time to Die, House of Gucci, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Smile, and Till.