What did Ed Gein's real voice sound like? Recordings compared to Netflix Monster series

Netflix's chilling series Monsterhas returned for its third season, delving into the life and crimes of infamous murderer Ed Gein.

Known as the Butcher of Plainfield or the Plainfield Ghoul, Gein's gruesome acts extended beyond his two confirmed murder victims to include grave robbing and crafting macabre items from human remains.

His home was a house of horrors, filled with items like bowls made from skulls and lampshades crafted from human skin, leading to his influence on iconic horror films such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Psycho.

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The eight-part Netflix series explores Gein's early life, his heinous crimes, and his impact on popular culture. However, one aspect of the show has left some viewers puzzled - the voice of the character.

So, did Ed Gein really sound like that? Where can you hear his real voice? Here's everything you need to know.

Did Ed Gein really talk like that?

British actor Charlie Hunnam, born in Newcastle and known for roles in Sons of Anarchy and films like Green Street, Pacific Rim, King Arthur and The Gentlemen, portrays Gein in the series. While Hunnam did listen to recordings to help shape his portrayal, it's not an entirely accurate representation of Gein's voice, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Whilst Hunnam appears to be grounding it in a Wisconsin accent, he also seems to incorporate elements into Gein's character that influence the vocal delivery.

Speaking ahead of the series' Netflix debut, he confessed that the voice "needed to be really specific", despite him and the director initially lacking "an idea of what that was".

He disclosed that the voice primarily emerged from "a series of affectations to please his mother".

Meanwhile, director Max Winkler has revealed the voice drew inspiration partly from Michael Jackson and Mark Rylance's performance in the play Jerusalem.

Hunnam also mentioned that he would frequently maintain the voice between takes and relished the experience.

Nevertheless, he wouldn't go as far as staying in character to the point of irritating people.

What did Ed Gein's actual voice sound like?

Very little surviving evidence exists to tell us how Ed Gein's voice truly sounded. A recent documentary series unveils what Ed Gein's voice actually sounded like.

Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein explores the early years of Gein. It also features recordings of Gein that were captured whilst he was being questioned by police about the murders and his other offences.

Some of these recordings are of poor quality, which makes it difficult to compare with Hunnam's interpretation.

The documentary's director James Buddy Day characterised the killer's voice as "meek and mild". This perhaps somewhat explains Hunnam's approach to his portrayal.

Where to hear Ed Gein's actual voice

Some users have shared snippets of Ed Gein's actual voice on YouTube, with posts cropping up that directly compare it to Hunnam's portrayal.

Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein, which features these recordings, can also be streamed online. All four episodes are available on MGM+.

The service is accessible via Prime Video as an additional subscription. Users can take advantage of a free trial before committing to a monthly fee of £5.99.

Monster: The Ed Gein Story is streaming on Netflix.