If you’ve seen “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” then you’ve probably noticed it claims to be inspired by a true story. In fact, the opening monologue claims, “The film which you are about to see is an account of the tragedy which befell a group of five youths. For them, an idyllic summer afternoon drive became a nightmare. The events of that day were to lead to the discovery of one of the most bizarre crimes in the annals of American history.”

“Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” or “TCM,” as fans call it, is loosely based on real-life murderer Ed Gein. Very loosely.

First of all, there were no chainsaws. Also, it was in Wisconsin, not Texas. And it wasn’t a family at all, or a group of five youths, or a summer drive. Anything left that’s true? Well, there were clothes made out of human skin. The real Ed Gein wore human scalps and faces, according to court documents, because he desired to be a woman, not because of a skin disease as “Leatherface,” “TCM’s” killer, did. Gein also wore a vest of skin complete with human breasts.

Between the years 1954 and 1957, Gein is identified as the killer of at least two women. They were not killed with a chainsaw, but instead, they were both shot.

In November of 1957, according to bbc.org, a policeman investigating a barn behind Gein’s house found the body of Bernice Worden hanging from the rafters. Her head had been removed and her body gutted.

When police searched the rest of Gein’s house and barn, they found the remains of 15 different women. Parts of these bodies were used to make objects such as drums, bowls, purses, clothing, masks, furniture and lampshades. Police also found a refrigerator full of human organs.

Gein only admitted to killing two women and claimed the other female remains had come from the local cemetery. He claimed he often dug up corpses and used them to make household objects.

In 1968, after being arrested, Gein was found guilty for the two murders, but he was found insane and sent to a mental hospital.

Court psychologists pointed to Gein’s unusual relationship with his mother as part of his twisted motivation. He was a shy boy with few friends and worshiped his mother. In fact, in May of 1944 Gein’s brother died mysteriously during a brush fire. Gein led the police right to his body, which was bruised but untouched by the fire. Gein was never charged with taking part in the death of his brother, and asphyxiation was listed as the cause of death.

So why the chainsaw? Writer-director Tobe Hopper told urbanlegends.com, “I was in the Montgomery Ward’s out in Capital Plaza. I had been working on this other story for some months – about isolation, the woods, the darkness and the unknown. It was around holiday season, and I found myself in the Ward’s hardware department…And those big crowds have always gotten to me. There were just so many people to go through. And I was just standing there in front of an upright display of chainsaws. And the focus just racked from my eyeball to the people to the saws – and the idea popped. I said, ‘Ooh, I know how I could get out of this place fast – if I just start one of these things up and make that sound.’ Of course I didn’t. That was just a fantasy.”

Yup, just a fantasy. Turns out you can’t believe everything you see in the movies, even if it does claim to be inspired by a true event.