Sending victims running outrageously through the woods, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre is absolutely filled with gruesome, violent deaths. Leatherface is a monster with a chainsaw…but he is also a monster without it.  Leatherface’s mask alone is enough to inspire fear in any victim.  This is because Leatherface dons masks made of human flesh, made from the faces of his victims. So what type of skills does Leatherface require to make his human face flesh masks? How much experience did he need before he started pumping out his high-quality grisly masks?

Horror Enthusiast has dug around in some of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre body pits to sift around and find the true origin behind the skills and design of the Leatherface mask.

What Does Leatherface Need to Make a Mask?

Slaughtering people correctly (both to murder them and skin their faces off), requires the work of a good butcher.  The mask requires serious tailoring skills. Sewing the mask together requires a steady hand and some fine needlework. 

That said, Leatherface has a ton of experience when it comes to being a butcher.  In fact, being a butcher is all he has ever known, career-wise.  On top of his cattle-butchering experience…he has been butchering stranded people for more than 40 years! Of course, the more people he butchers, the more faces he skins, the more masks he sews…the better he gets at the whole thing.

Technically, both the Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Leatherface alike require a steady flow of victims through their abandoned town.  Without a steady flow of victims, they cannot eat, but more importantly, Leatherface cannot make new masks. New victims mean new masks.

Ultimately there is no shortage of victims rolling through the Sawyer house.

How Does Leatherface Create His Mask?

Although the first two movies do not share much information about the origin of the Leatherface mask, the third movie in the series, Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990), is rather revealing. In fact, R.A. Mihailoff (who played leatherface in this movie), can be seen right from the start making a new mask for himself.

Step 1: Leatherface starts by dragging his victim into his little butchery area, usually either the Sawyer house basement or his room. Sometimes the room is hidden, other times it even has a window (allowing some victims to witness the atrocities from outside the house).

Step 2: Leatherface skins the face off the victim. It is important to note that Sometimes the victim is alive, even during the start of the skinning phase. Yet other times they have first bled out on a meat hook or froze in a meat freezer. Most of the time, they are already dead by the hands of Leatherface or a family member.

Step 3: The next step is sewing the mask together, as it typically requires a variety of slices to skin a face clean off a victim. The mask is essentially finished after it is sewn together, giving it a “homemade” kind of feel.

Leatherface has many personalities, based upon the mask he may wear.  Sometimes he is sympathetic, sometimes matriarchal, and other times, he is a stone cold hunter!  Some psychologists have speculated he uses the masks to change identity as a way of fulfilling himself.

How Was the Leatherface Mask Made in Real Life?

Supposedly, the original Leatherface mask from the first movie was made out of a combination of fiberglass and latex. This interesting combo for material creates an almost see-through look and it has been said to be very fragile.  The fiberglass was essential though, as it created a very real “dead skin” kind of look.  The mask looks exactly like dried out, dead skin.

What Influenced the Real Leatherface Mask

A lot of the influence behind the real mask used in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) and subsequent films in the franchise, came from the real life trophies of Ed Gein, the grave robbing corpse mutilator. Of the many items found in Gein’s home included a mask made from the face of a human being. In fact, his uniquely grotesque home furnishings and horror decor, all made from human bones and skin, also inspired the look for the inside of the Sawyer residence.

Gein did supposedly actually wear these masks, spawning the horror icon we know today as Leatherface from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies.

Final Words About Leatherface

Leatherface loves to wear different masks throughout the movies. In fact, he changes masks frequently, not just from movie to movie, but also wearing many masks sometimes within a single movie.  He has also worn the mask of his victim in the same movie as he has killed them.  For Leatherface, the thrill does not stop at simply slaughtering his victims, but also in butchering them, skinning their face off, and dancing around with his chainsaw wearing a mask of their face.

What If Leatherface Was Chasing You?

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre brings a lot of fears to life: the fear of chainsaws, the fear of cannibals, the fear of being hunted after being stranded, and the fear of ruthless monsters. However, the full terror of the movies has been isolated on-screen…until now!  What would you do if you were being chased by Leatherface? Take the quiz below and find out if you would survive!

Would You Survive Leatherface In Real Life?

Horror Enthusiast determines your likelihood of survival in a real life Leatherface chase in terms of Leatherface Survival Points. Leatherface Survival Points are earned by making positive decisions in an attempt to escape Leatherface, while they are subtracted from poor decisions.

If you are a male, you start out with Zero (0) points.

If you are a female, you start out with Five (5) points. Females are more likely to survive an encounter with Leatherface.

By the end of the quiz, you’ll have tallied up your score to determine if you could teach others how to survive a real life leatherface, or if you are just another meat carcass!

Weapon to Use Against Leatherface

It is imperative to defend yourself against a horror movie slasher.  Though, some people prefer flight over any other action, and some prefer to hide.  There will be a lot of bonuses to be had by fighting back, as Leatherface is just a normal human being under the dead flesh and susceptible to pain like anyone else. Some weapon choices will be better than others. It is not acceptable to combine weapon choices, you may only choose one, or none.

• If you would choose a large object to bash Leatherface over the head, add 1 point to your score.
• If you would choose a bladed weapon (such as a knife or glass shard) to attempt to sever Leatherface’s arm or otherwise repeatedly stab him, add 10 points to your score.
• If you would choose to use the environment as a weapon, such as luring him into a trap of some kind, add 10 points to your score.
• If you would choose to strike Leatherface with a car, add 15 points to your score.
• If you would choose to shoot Leatherface with a gun, add 5 points to your score.
• If you would choose to wrestle Leatherface one on one, add 1 point to your score.
• If you choose to avoid an encounter, do not modify your score.

Hiding Place When Running From Leatherface

Hiding is a really important part of surviving a Leatherface encounter. He is strong, fast and well-armed, thus, wit and a few quick hiding places is essential for moving throughout his environment and finding a proper escape. Unfortunately it doesn’t always work.  It is not acceptable to combine hiding places, you may only choose one, or none.

• If you would choose to hide in a closet, add 2 points to your score.
• If you would choose to hide underneath a previously slain victim, add 10 points to your score.
• If you would choose to hide in the woods, add 10 points to your score.
• If you would choose to hide in a disabled car or vehicle, add 2 points to your score.
• If you would choose to hide in a meat packing plant, factory or other butchery, add 5 points to your score.
• If you would never choose to hide, do not modify your score.

Escape Routes to Escape Leatherface

A lot of Leatherface Survivors have fought back before escaping.  Many have died trying to escape. And many have gotten super lucky gambling with an escape plan.  Depending upon your plan, you may be more or less likely to escape. It is acceptable to combine two (2) options in order to devise your proper escape plan.

• If you would attempt to kill Leatherface with a weapon that you have scavenged from the wilderness, cannibal’s home, or collection of ‘past victim artifacts,’ add 5 point to your score.
• If you would attempt to drive yourself out using one of the Sawyer/Hewitt family vehicles, add 3 points to your score.
• If you would choose to flag down a passerby vehicle on a through road, risking running into a cannibal family member, add 2 points to your score.
• If you would be willing to jump from a two story window without knowing what is below, add 2 points to your score.
• If you would choose to run through the woods, add 10 points to your score.

Ways to Die Against Leatherface

If You want to live when a real life leatherface is chasing you, chainsaw and all, you will want to avoid these common mistakes that have led to the demise of countless others.  These stupid mistakes will affect your ability to survive.

Going Back to Help Others

Typically this strategy never works out and at least one person dies when someone doubles back for a friend.  Usually, it’s the person that is being saved…however, sometimes no one makes it out. 

If you would double back for a friend, subtract 6 points from your score.

Picking Up Hitchhikers

A lot of times, a hitchhiker leads the group to their doom.  It’s never a good idea to pick up hitchhikers in a Texas Chainsaw movie, and is always a prelude for disaster.

If you would pick up a hitchhiker, subtract 4 points from your score.

Asking a Local Resident for Help

Many of the local residents in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre films are “in on it” with the Sawyer/Hewitt murderous family.  When being chased by Leatherface or his crazy family, it is advised to avoid seeking out local residents for help.

If you would pound on a neighbor’s door for help, subtract 8 points from your score.

Entering Unknown Houses 

A lot of the victims from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre have chosen to enter the residence of someone they do not know, willingly, before they are hunted or murdered.  Most victims probably would have had a better chance of survival if they had avoided entering strange homes in secluded locations.

If you would enter a stranger’s home to use their telephone when in trouble, subtract 12 points from your score.

Going on Fun Excursions With Your Friends

So many victims fall in numbers. Leatherface and family prefer to hunt groups of people all at once.  Most of the victims who have fallen to Leatherface started out as a part of a large group of friends traveling on a fun vacation or trip of some kind.

If you would carpool in a big van to have a great time with your friends for a weekend somewhere awesome, subtract 15 points from your score.

Falling Asleep

Although we aren’t dealing with a nightmare killer here, any victim who has fallen asleep due to exhaustion, concussion, or loss of blood, almost always dies.  It is extremely hard to survive if you are in a state which requires any type of unconscious period in a Leatherface chase.

If you would take a nap or otherwise find yourself unconscious around Leatherface, subtract 15 points from your score.

Did You Survive?

Tallying up your Leatherface Survival Points will indicate your likelihood of surviving a real life encounter with Leatherface. 

+10 points…………… HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF SURVIVAL

4 to 9 points………… POSSIBLE CHANCE OF SURVIVAL

0 to 3 points………… SLIM CHANCE OF SURVIVAL

-9 to -1 points……… PROBABLY DEAD ON ARRIVAL

-19 to -10 points……DEFINITE DEATH

Below -20 points…. LEATHERFACE IS PLAYING WITH HIS FOOD

Do not feel bad if you have a low score! It is quite difficult to survive Leatherface in the movies and would be equally as difficult in real life.

Leatherface, the infamous Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise slasher, has long been rumored by fans to battle mental illness. However, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006) did reveal a few details about his past and the history of Leatherface before he ever used a chainsaw.  Turns out, Leatherface did suffer from an intellectual disability (basically a mental retardation) being diagnosed with a degenerative neuro disorder when he was only 12 years old.  Leatherface was raised by the Hewitts/Sawyers (depending upon which movie) after being abandoned in a dumpster at a meat packing plant.  Although it is highly unlikely he ever took an IQ test, or a test of any kind for that matter, many horror fans speculate that Leatherface would have a rather low IQ.

Does Leatherface Have an Intellectual Disability (Mental Retardation)?

There are a few facts and activities spread throughout his killing sprees on-screen, which give credence to his diagnosis of mental illness being accurate.

Leatherface Plays With Children’s Toy

In Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III, Leatherface enjoys some time with one of his favorite children’s toys, a sort of “speak and spell” type of electronic.  The digital screen displays the image of a clown and Leatherface types “FOOD” repeatedly while the machine replies “Sorry, wrong answer!”  Eventually he angrily smashes and thrashes around, throwing a fit.

Leatherface’s Curious Encounter

In Leatherface Chainsaw 3D, the monstrous chainsaw-wielding villain stops dead in his tracks during a chase for a kid with a toy chainsaw. Although Leatherface eventually gains composure and scares the kid off, he is taken aback to see another chainsaw weilder.

Frustrated Tantrums

Leatherface is seen in many films getting frustrated with his inability to catch his victims or appease his family members.  Usually he will become more violent than normal, spinning out of control with his chainsaw while standing in place…or shoving one of his family member’s heads into an oven, fire ablaze!

Human-Face Masks

Many psychologists would likely declare Leatherface mentally ill. One of the biggest reasons being that Leatherface feels a lack of identity to the point he needs to shave faces off of other human beings, wearing them as his own.

Creepy Bone & Flesh Collection

Although there are normal uses for animal bones and various organic matters, Leatherface (and family) take it to a whole new level of disgusting. The Hewitt/Sawyer properties often feature dead animals, hanging bones and human skulls scattered all over the scene!  They are even cannibals, creating a human stew (probably really high in protein). In fact, a psychologist would probably have a few disorders lined up for Leatherface based on his collections alone!

Other Characters Recognize Leatherface As Mentally Slow

There are a couple of key characters who have been around Leatherface for a good part of his life to know him well. Leatherface’s boss and co-worker at his butchery call him a “dumb animal” and even a “retard,” leaving him angry enough to slay them right then and there.  Later on, the sheriff is talking to Leatherface’s uncle Charlie about getting Leatherface under control…referring to him as “retarded.”

Leatherface is Mute

Leatherface is unable to verbally communicate, besides a few grunts and groans. Occasionally, when a survivor has successfully hurt Leatherface, he can be heard screaming like a little girl.

Leatherface Plays With Makeup Like a Child

Leatherface is unable to resists the temptations of decorating his victims and his mask made of human face with lipstick in one flick.  Although most would agree: Leatherface would be a terrible makeup artist and should stick to his day job!

The Final Word on the IQ of Leatherface

Leatherface is most certainly mentally handicapped and suffers a low IQ. Ultimately, this explains why he so quick to follow his family’s truly demented orders, and also why he is sometimes a little easier to outwit than other horror movie slashers.  Regardless of his true IQ and how mentally deranged he may be…Leatherface is infamous for an array of truly entertaining on-screen kills!

Check out Who is the Smartest slasher and see how Leatherface compares to the wits of other slasher favorites!

How Old Would Leatherface Be Today?

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies are not always very clear on the fate of the Sawyer and/or Hewitt family at the ending of the films.  In fact, sometimes Leatherface is seen very much alive and even angry, or frustrated!  This leads Texas Chainsaw fans wondering, could Leatherface be alive still today? Would it be possible, if he were not a fictional character? What age would Leatherface be if he had survived everything and was still breathing today?

Horror Enthusiast has carefully reviewed all the evidence available throughout the Texas Chainsaw and Leatherface movies to speculate upon his most probable fate, and ultimately whether or not Leatherface could be alive today.

Where is Leatherface Now?

Although it would be absolutely amazing if the original Leatherface from the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) were still alive. He was (at best) in his 20s in the original film, but what would be a greater struggle than age, would be his lifestyle. He has no skills to keep himself alive besides murdering, butchering and cooking.  He would literally have to rely on hunting humans off the highway…and with technology today,  it is unlikely he would survive the first major disappearance of…anyone.  Because he could not get a job on his own, he would be relying upon his family to provide jobs to him (be it cannibal-related or not).

It is possible, however, that parts of his family survived and are still involved in a Texas-Chainsawing syndicate. If some of his family is assisting him, and with a high protein diet, he is probably still alive.  He may be suffering from some version of Mad Cow disease, however, from eating other human beings for so long.  This would not matter much, as it has been speculated that Leatherface already suffers from mental illness.

If he were alive from the original film, he could be alive still.  At best (if he were 20 years old in 1974), he would be 67.  If he were in his mid 40s, say 46 for example purposes, he would be in his 90’s.  Given the high-risk lifestyle he has lived, the lack of society-based / people skills, and the cannibalistic diet, he probably has met his demise within the last few decades.

The Leatherface from the later movies in the franchise could still be alive. Although the 2003 and 2006 movies focused still on a 1960s and 1970s era setting (leaving Leatherface still a wrinkled elderly man in the event  he is still alive), there was Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990) and Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994), which featured a still-young appearing Leatherface, maybe in his late twenties to early 40s, and these two films appeared to be set in “present day” for their time.  This would place Leatherface’s odds more favorable, providing an age today potentially as low as 46-50 years old.

And then there is the Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013) film which shows what seems to be a present day Leatherface alive and well, maybe in his 40s or 50s. 

Leatherface Gets the Last Laugh

Leatherface very well could be alive still.  His survival skills, though minimal in quantity, are hardcore and allow him to eat as frequently as he finds victims.  With all the flesh he carves off his victims, he probably could survive the cold even without shelter…though it does not seem anyone has ever cared about the Sawyer/Hewitt properties ever before, so his home probably still stands just fine. In the end, Leatherface might be laughing under that grotesque mask of his after all!

Additional Info: Ed Gein, the character Leatherface was based upon, was not actually a murderer but only a grave robber. He died in 1984 in a mental institute, though he probably knew about the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie that he inspired.