Horror movies have given us some of the most menacing and violent on-screen villains since the dawn of cinema, though these masked maniacs are nothing without a trusty weapon with which to do their dirty work. The chainsaw is one of the most iconic weapons in horror next to Michael Myers’ kitchen knife, Jason Voorhees’ machete and Freddy Krueger’s knifed glove, and one particular Ed Gein inspired psychopath is the first to come to mind when this grisly, tree-felling tool is mentioned: Leatherface. Aside from Leatherface, there are probably more chainsaw horror movies than you might think out there.

The chainsaw has no particular style or grace, it is the choice of weapon for when your target must absolutely come to the utmost harm you can possibly befall them. It won’t just cut, it’ll carve, grind and mangle. Think you can hide indoors? Those doors better not be made of wood, or whoever’s wielding that snarling, toothed engine won’t be held back for long. Even the most hyperviolent video games aren’t complete without allowing their players to wield the chainsaw, with titles such as DOOM, Gears of War, Manhunt, Left 4 Dead and a good amount of other zombie games on the market including the weapon. That being said, the first exposure most audiences had to the flesh-ripping nature of the chainsaw was through film, so please enjoy the most heinous, violent and barbaric depictions of on-screen chainsaw violence in history.

The Wizard of Gore (1970) 

Herschell Gordon Lewis’ The Wizard of Gore is arguably one of the first horror movies to bring a chainsaw to proceedings, and this early 70s forerunner to post-9/11 torture porn does so with gusto. Deranged magician Montag the Magnificent (Ray Sager) invites women onto his stage show where he performs grisly illusions upon them, usually by dismembering them in some way, before having them return to their seats magically unharmed. Later, when the women begin dying for real in ways identical to their ‘deaths’ on stage, people begin to suspect there is more to Montag than simple magician’s tricks. Featuring plenty of over the top gore and an ending likely to confuse as much as it does enthral, fans of classic cult horrors should take note.

The Last House on The Left (1972)

Wes Craven, who would later carve his own legacy in the annals of American Horror, first directed a harrowing and highly sexualised revenge horror in 1972. Other than a previous adult film, this was Craven’s directorial debut and it is clear he was out to shock from the start. Later re-releases dub The Last House on The Left as “The Original Chainsaw Massacre”, though the weapon is not actually featured until the film’s final act. Rather than wince when the snarling saw is finally brandished, however, audiences will shout encouragement at its wielder as he sets it upon the man who raped and killed his daughter. This shock revenge flick has as satisfying an ending as any that came after it, and the loud, intense edge of the chainsaw is partly to thank for that.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

This is the big one, folks. Directed by Tobe Hooper and unleashed to shock unsuspecting audiences around the globe in 1974, Texas Chainsaw is not only the ultimate exercise in chainsaw-based carnage, but still remains one of the most unsettling and intense horror movies to this day. Advertised and being based on a true story it was all too real for some audience members. With a whole family of antagonists including the instantly recognizable, Ed Gein-inspired Leatherface, Hooper’s classic brings a specific flavor of nastiness that is often imitated, though never quite perfected.

Motel Hell (1980)

Kevin Connor’s 80s black comedy/horror centers around siblings Vincent and Ida Smith (Rory Calhoun & Nancy Parsons) who run a motel along with a food stand selling their world famous sausages. After some investigation it is revealed that the origin of their meat surplus has a gruesome connection to the disappearance of a few guests, and farmer Vincent must do everything he can to protect their secret. Featuring darkly comical gore, lively performances all round and the pig-masked Vincent brandishing a huge chainsaw, this early 80’s cult classic is perfect for those who want a good laugh with their gore. 

The Evil Dead (1981)

The Evil Dead might not have been the first use of the chainsaw in horror history, though it is easily one of the most recognizable. It is used by protagonist Ash Williams to cut off his own possessed hand in Evil Dead 2 (1987), before he fits the tool to his dismembered stump as a gruesome prosthetic, making it all the easier to hack through the forces of darkness. It was also used to great effect in reboot Evil Dead (2013) where it is shoved down the antichrist’s throat mid-blood rain in one of the most insane climax shots ever. While the chainsaw would later become Ash’s signature in the later films, it was first introduced in the original The Evil Dead (1981) when Ash tries to slice his beloved Linda in half and can’t bring himself to, opting to bury her instead, which goes as well as one would expect. 

Pieces (1982)

Pieces is about as campy and scattershot an affair as one would expect from an early 80’s slasher. A group of college co-eds in Boston are stalked by a mysterious killer wielding a chainsaw, who steals body parts from each victim for a bloody jigsaw puzzle. Like many of its era, Pieces displays gratuitous gore, even more gratuitous nudity and a knowing edge that stops it from taking itself too seriously. What it also includes, however, are many absurd and almost random scenes that seemingly have no purpose other than to divert from an otherwise very standard and conventional plot. It is an absolute mess of a movie, but maybe that’s just your kind of thing. 

American Psycho (2000)

Directed by Mary Harron and adapted from Bret Easton Ellis’s 1991 novel of the same name, American Psycho is a humorous, horrifying and intriguing look at the life of Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale). Bateman, a wealthy investment banker from New York, is also a serial killer who moves from departing the homeless, to colleagues who annoy him, and then to random members of the public, seemingly unable to contain his psychotic urges. The film employs plenty of good humor alongside its visceral brutality, playing with the fragile ego of the unreliable narrator Bateman on such subjects as music, sex and even the business cards of his fellow bankers. One particularly harrowing scene shows Bateman chasing a prostitute around his apartment complex, completely naked and brandishing a chainsaw. As his victim descends the spiral staircase to escape, Bateman smugly allows the chainsaw to fall towards her rather than chasing her himself. The energy and menace Bale brings to his role is enough to make any lumberjack look twice at his trusted power saw.

Tokyo Gore Police (2008)

Next up is a fantastic Japanese splatter action directed by Yoshihiro Nishimura which features, true to its name, buckets of blood and guts along with some truly bizarre weapons and mutations. Think Power Rangers but with more cybernetic body modification and gore-soaked mayhem than you can shake a severed tendon at. Rather than anyone running the the woodshed for their trusty tree-feller, the creatures that vengeful police officer Ruka (Eihi Shiina) must fight have the things coming from every orifice of their mutated bodies! Like some overblown cyberpunk nightmare, TGP comes through with some of the weirdest gore-based spectacle on offer. With raving critical and audience reviews, this serves as a perfect introduction to Japan’s infinitely obscure splatter scene, and gore movies in general, keeping things funny, interesting and completely unexpected until the final frame.

Dead Snow (2009) 

If there’s one thing more morally fogiveable than killing Nazis, it’s killing zombies. This 2009 Norwegian horror/comedy combines the two, along with a healthy splattering of references to the greats (Evil Dead mainly), for an end result which is as hilarious as it is gruesome. Naturally, a homage to Raimi’s classic would have been nothing without that famous buzzing blade being used to dismember a few fascist undead, and director Tommy Wirkola took great pleasure in crafting an epic battle scene between our chainsaw-wielding heroes and a horde of the rotting horrors on a snowy mountain plane. The scene in question could be placed with the likes of the famous lawnmower scene in Peter Jackson’s Braindead (1992) as one of the most fun pieces of brutal mass-killing to watch on screen. Be sure to also check out the sequel.

Mandy (2018)

In terms of 80’s soaked grindhouse violence, Mandy has everything. A revenge plot from the deepest fever dream of the cinema obsessed Panos Cosmatos, Mandy serves to scratch an itch for all lovers of overblown gore and gut-wrenching storytelling. And if these fanatics are anything like me, then near the top of their list of hopeful scenes is the conceptually legendary, yet criminally underused, chainsaw fight. Cosmatos didn’t only decide to craft one of the greatest face-offs in recent memory, but was so proud of it that he included it on the film’s cover art. This kind of boldness and confidence is what draws me to projects such as these, and I for one am waiting with bated breath for whatever darkness Cosmatos casts over us next.

Chainsaws in Horror Movies

Well that’s a wrap on some must see chainsaw wielding maniacs. If you need more you can always dig into the iconic Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise, makes for a nice binge weekend if you can stomach it. With that said we are promised a new film from the franchise in 2022. Will you be there with proper ear and eye protection as we witness the revival of Leatherface?

Joe Clements

Joe first knew he wanted to write in year six after plaguing his teacher’s dreams with a harrowing story of World War prisoners and an insidious ‘book of the dead’. Clearly infatuated with horror, and wearing his influences on his sleeve, he dabbled in some smaller pieces before starting work on his condensed sci-fi epic, System Reset in 2013.Once this was published he began work on many smaller horror stories and poems in bid to harness and connect with his own fears and passions and build on his craft.
Joe is obsessed with atmosphere and aesthetic, big concepts and even bigger senses of scale, feeding on cosmic horror of the deep sea and vastness of space and the emotions these can invoke. His main fixes within the dark arts include horror films, extreme metal music and the bleakest of poetry and science fiction literature.
He holds a deep respect for plot, creative flow and the context of art, and hopes to forge deeper connections between them around filmmakers dabbling in the dark and macabre.

linktr.ee/Joeclements

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The obnoxious sound of Leatherface’s chainsaw slicing through the wall in a decrepit, bone-filled house off the beaten path will strike pure terror in anyone’s heart. In fact, it is possible that many people would drop dead of a heart attack right away if they actually saw Leatherface in real life. Chainsaws are most certainly real.  Masks of flesh are most certainly possible. And deranged cannibalistic psychopaths are absolutely possible.  So, did the Texas chainsaw massacre happen in real life, is there a true story behind it?

Was Ed Gein the Inspiration for Leatherface?

Movie Marketing at it’s Finest

As seen above in the poster, the marketing for Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s original 1974 release certainly made claims that it was based on a true story. “What happened is true. Now the motion picture that’s just as real” is the sub text of the movie title.

The Real Inspiration for Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Despite beliefs that Texas Chainsaw Massacre was inspired by a true story, Tobe Hooper’s 1974 film Texas Chainsaw Massacre and its 2003 remake were actually based only loosely on Ed Gein, who is suspected to have taken victims between 1954 and 1957. The most notable similarity is the house in the movies, whose grisly contents were similar to those in Gein’s home seen below.

Edward Theodore Gein Born August 27, 1906 – July 26, 1984, also known as the Butcher of Plainfield or the Plainfield Ghoul, was an American murderer and body snatcher. Gein’s crimes, committed around his hometown of Plainfield, Wisconsin, gathered widespread notoriety in 1957 after authorities discovered he had exhumed corpses from local graveyards and fashioned trophies and keepsakes from their bones and skin. Gein also confessed to killing two women: tavern owner Mary Hogan in 1954 and hardware store owner Bernice Worden in 1957. – Wikipedia

Gein was initially found unfit to stand trial and confined to a mental health facility. By 1968, he was judged competent to stand trial; he was found guilty of the murder of Worden, but he was found legally insane and was remanded to a psychiatric institution. He died at Mendota Mental Health Institute of respiratory failure, on July 26, 1984, aged 77. He is buried next to his family in the Plainfield Cemetery, in a now-unmarked grave. – Wikipedia

The Texas Chainsaw movies undoubtedly inspired by Ed Gein. Furniture that has been made out of bone and flesh, Leatherface’s masks made from the flesh of human faces, and a truly unkempt home are all parts of the movies that were inspired by Ed Gein. Still, there are real life examples of home decor, furnishings and masks found made by Ed Gein that show this type of corpse and body mutilation is more than possible, psychologically.  There are many documented cases of human cannibalism, some close to home in the past and some abroad in third world territories still occurring today. Obviously there are murders all the time. 

And thus, yes it is more than possible for a corpse mutilating, murdering cannibal to exist. Yes, it is possible for a real life Texas Chainsaw Massacre to happen. YES, it is possible for a real life Leatherface to exist.

What Would a Real Life Texas Chainsaw Massacre Be Like?

There are many components of a true Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie.  Here are some of the most commonly found attributes which make a Leatherface movie, a real Leatherface movie.

Unsuspecting Victims

Unfortunately for the victims, most do not realize what is happening until it is already too late. Leatherface may be really scary, but he usually does not show up right away. Instead, his family first begins interacting with the victims, almost as though they are normal, contributing members of society.  The victims usually have an ultra low guard by the time they are any where near Leatherface himself.

Tow Trucks and/or Immobile Vehicle Graveyard

A lot of Texas Chainsaw Massacre films feature tow trucks that respond to victim car crashes, and/or a full-on vehicle graveyard.  The vehicles in this graveyard are always immobile and appear as though they may have been there for a long while.

Gas Station and/or Rest Stop

The Leatherface movies almost always start out on the road somehow, and the victims almost always end up stopping at a gas station or a rest stop of some kind for one reason or another.  Usually, it is for gas. Sometimes, they get directions.  It is always unwise to follow those directions…but they usually do!

Blood

There would be lots and lots of blood in a real life Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The Sawyers (or Hewitts, depending upon which part of the franchise you are watching) are cannibals and furniture artists…and they prefer human-only parts!  This means being fully comfortable with cutting, slicing and dicing up human flesh and body parts. Not to mention the actual murders themselves.

Human Flesh and Bone Furnishings

Leatherface and his family love crafting the flesh and bone of their victims into furniture.  Their house is absolutely decorated with human body parts. There are human face lamps. There are chairs made of bone.  And a variety of other furnishings and horror decor.

Fun Fact: Did you know you can actually BUY Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Leatherface Inspired Horror Decor?

Yummy Dinner

Leatherface drags victims through his house and into his room for butchering, collecting parts for use in his family’s famous cannibal soup.

From Ed Gein to…???

The funny thing about people like Ed Gein (only a grave robber and corpse mutilator) and serial killers is that normally they are discovered after the fact.  This means, unfortunately, if there could be a real life Texas Chainsaw Massacre, that it could be happening already.  So be careful out there on those Texas highways…and never take any unfamiliar detours not on your GPS!!  As one simply never knows when a real life Texas Chainsaw Massacre could be taking place off the beaten path, on some dirt road somewhere!

Check out Surprising Facts About Leatherface and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movies to learn more!

Sources

Wikipedia

Tritone

Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.

puzzleboxhorror.com

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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies are grisly and absolutely filled with violent endings. The killer, Leatherface is strong, a fast runner and wears a terrifying mask.  The Texas Chainsaw movies paint a truly scary experience.  A horror orchestra of empty sounds in the woods…only crickets and the gentle wind running through the grass. A bright full moon and the dust from the dirt road lightly kicked up in the moonlight.  And a loud, shiny chainsaw moving at you through the nighttime air!  Yes indeed, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre is truly scary and no one wants to encounter Leatherface under any circumstance.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movies Ranked by Scariest

There are eight official Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies.  They began in 70s with the most recent only being released overseas in 2017.  Without further ado…Horror Enthusiast has ranked the Texas Chainsaw movies from scariest to least scariest.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

1^st Scariest Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movie

The original Texas Chainsaw film is the scariest movie of them all. It possesses a raw horror, a fear that can be felt deeply in the audience.  Even today, in a day and age when hitchhiking has practically come to a complete halt, the original film still taps into the core of what scares people. Despite the Texas Chainsaw Massacre being a slasher horror movie, it has a psychological thriller side to it that has the ability to leave a watcher shaken for life.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

2^nd Scariest Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movie

Sporting a new Leatherface and a new family name, the Hewitts, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) keeps fans on the edge of their seats throughout the entire movie. This flick was a box office hit and also an awesome, ‘loose’ recreation of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie.  With an awesome cast (centered around Jessica Biel), great directing and awesome promotional skills, the 2003 chainsaw movie ranks in as the second scariest film in the franchise.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)

3^rd Scariest Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movie

The ‘prequel to the 2003 remake’, featuring the Hewitts and how Leatherface began killing was about as scary as the 2003 remake.  A different cast was used (centered around Jordana Brewster) as the cast from the other movie died, as usual. Nonetheless, everyone did a great job and ‘The Beginning’ easily ranks 3^rd scariest movie in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise.

Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990)

4^th Scariest Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movie

This movie was decently scary, with a creepy, dangerous family and an equally scary Leatherface.  No comedy in this movie, only pure chainsaw and cannibal-terror.

Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013)

5^th Scariest Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movie

Arriving a little late to the 3D movie rush did not help Texas Chainsaw 3D at the box office. The movie was equally disappointing in terror as well. The audience may have gasped ‘ooh’ and ‘ah’, but they seemed much less scared than in previous Texas Chainsaw films.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1995)

6^th Scariest Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movie

The new take on Leatherface and his family in this movie, is a horror conspiracy involving the government (or something). It seems there are people hiring the Sawyer family to hijack, trap and otherwise torment travelers moving through their town.  Even with a rock star cast, the movie only pulls in toward the bottom of the list.

Leatherface (2017)

7^th Scariest Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movie

Firstly, this film was not released in the United States at all. It stars a younger Leatherface, however, ultimately veers away from the traditional Leatherface story line and seems to be rejected by many Texas Chainsaw Massacre fans.  It is not as scary as the rest of the franchise leaving it ranking at the bottom of the list.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2

8^th Scariest Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movie

This movie was more like a comedy than it was a horror movie. It was still part of the franchise and Leatherface still appeared in the movie. With the ridiculous deaths and crazy dialogue, the second movie in the franchise firmly locks down the least scariest rank when it comes to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre films.

The Chainsaw Heard Around the World

Leatherface is a maniac with a chainsaw and apparently that is just what the fans wanted! As the Texas Chainsaw movies have developed a cult following and are a notorious draw at the box office, when properly produced.  They are almost always scary movies and show off some seriously scary and gory death scenes.  It turns out that a chainsaw is a unique weapon in that it not only inspires natural fear in the damage it can cause…but it sounds truly terrifying and is the only horror movie killer weapon which can be heard before it can be seen! This makes the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies and Leatherface, uniquely terrifying!

Tritone

Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.

puzzleboxhorror.com

The post Which is the Scariest Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movie appeared first on Puzzle Box Horror.

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.

Tritone

Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.

puzzleboxhorror.com

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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.

Tritone

Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.

puzzleboxhorror.com

The post How Did Leatherface Make His Masks? appeared first on Puzzle Box Horror.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre Inspired Furniture and Home Decor

A lot of TRUE Leatherface and horror fans alike have been on the hunt for high quality Texas Chainsaw-inspired furniture for a long time.  There have been a few options throughout the years, but some of the craziest has probably yet to come.  That said, Horror Enthusiast has found a few options out there that are absolutely “killer” simulations of the real thing.  There are some horror decor and horror furnishing companies out there that make super high quality Leatherface-like, Ed Gein-style furniture. 

Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Leatherface and Ed Gein Style Home Furnishings

These are some of the most terrifying horror furniture and realistic horror decor available. While some of these furnishings and horror decors may be a little disturbing, most of them have their own special sort of charm!

Ed Gein Style Jacket (fake human skin jacket)

The sporadically-stitched human skin-style jacket features very realistic looking patches of human flesh. There are numerous human faces present throughout the jacket and it appears as though it were made from the flesh of many different victims, of diverse ethnicity.

Human Face Lamp

One of the most famous Ed Gein horror furniture pieces found was a lamp made with human flesh.  This Human Face Carousel Lamp is a fine piece of “Leatherface-like” furniture and features many different human faces, forming a truly terrifying lamp shade.

Texas Chainsaw-Like Backpacks

There are a number of backpacks, handbags and other sacks and containers available for sale that were inspired by the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.  One of the best is an Ed Gein-style backpack (technically it’s silicone but it looks like real human skin) that is hand detailed in Australia. 

Human Skull and Head Chandeliers

There are a number of human skull chandeliers.  Some of the options feature truly realistic looking skulls or decaying human heads. There is one option on Amazon that is truly scary. This metal human head chandelier with corpse-like skulls is in true “Texas Chainsaw” style! It is super realistic looking and a horrifying touch to any fan’s horror decor collection!

Ed Gein Inspired Chair

The Ed Gein Inspired Arm Chair is one of the Internet’s most notorious Leatherface-type furniture pieces out there. The chairs are made custom, hand detailed and sewn, complete with even synthetic eyelashes and hairs.  This chair looks incredibly realistic and is a truly essential asset to any horror fan’s  house furnishings and horror decor.

Last Words About Furniture Made of Flesh

There is no end to the creativity and innovation of man.  It is especially terrifying when man chooses to be creative with flesh, however, simulated flesh is a whole different story.  Horror fans are truly digging the Leatherface-inspired home decor and horror furniture. And decorating a horror fan’s home with horror furnishings and Texas Chainsaw style decor has never been easier!

Keep an eye on Horror Hub Marketplace for Texas Chainsaw style furnishing for your home and other horror decor.

Tritone

Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.

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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise is filled with horrifying costumes, effects, props and furniture.  Some of the wretched home decor is scarier than the rest…however, almost all of the home furnishings found throughout the Sawyer (or Hewitt) residence is absolutely unnerving. After wreaking decades of havoc on travelers through Texas, the wicked killers have collected a number of creepy artifacts.  Analyzing any of the furnishings in Leatherface’s home during any film will reveal the true sadistic nature of the family of cannibals.

List of Scary Furniture Found in Texas Chainsaw Movies

These are some of the scariest horror decor and flesh inspired furniture found throughout the Texas Chainsaw Massacre films.

Furniture Made of Bone

A lot of the furniture throughout the Sawyer (or Hewitt depending upon the movie in the franchise) residence are outfitted with bone or actually made from human bones. The lamps are sometimes made from bones.  All types of bones are used in the furniture, rib cages, ribs, knees, arms, legs, skulls…just about everything.

Bone Chandelier

A bone chandelier like the one in the dinner scene of Texas Chainsaw Massacre III instill real fear in the audience.  This chandelier is comprised of so many bones (arms or legs it looks like), that it implies many victims have seen the dinner table before.

Animal Skull Centerpieces

The dinner table is can be seen affixed with an animal skull or two.  This is a very respectable dinner table centerpiece in the house of a cannibal family.

Filthy Antiques

There is a lot of fear to be had in old, antique, rusty and filthy pieces of furniture.  Not to mention a chainsaw collection including the chainsaw he used to saw up all those unfortunate teenagers. Old, unkempt furnishings and horror decor are everywhere in a Texas Chainsaw movie.

Human Flesh and Face Lamps

There are lamps seen throughout the films that are made using human flesh. Sometimes, they are made using the flesh of a human face.

Standing Skeletons

The cannibals have claimed many victims and have an array of skeletons littered throughout the residence along with them. Many of the skeletons are fixated in a standing position.

Hanging Bones and Skulls

As if full size human skeletons weren’t enough, there are always all types of weird fixtures hanging from the ceilings in select rooms.  These are presumably Leatherface’s idea of home decor, however, they are horrifying and made of skulls and bones and dead animals.

Final Notes About Texas Chainsaw Massacre Decor

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a terrifying franchise and often all the credit goes to Leatherface and the chainsaw, and maybe his cannibalistic family. People hardly attribute any of the fear to the furnishings and horror decor throughout the Sawyer/Hewitt residence, but these furnishings play an important role in the buildup of fear. And the collection of Ed Gein-style furniture and horror decor show that Leatherface and family have been doing this for a while.

Tritone

Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.

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The post Scariest Furniture Found in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movies appeared first on Puzzle Box Horror.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies are some of the scariest slasher movies to grace the horror genre.  Leatherface is a scary killer by himself, but with the chainsaw, he is truly terrifying.  The chainsaw is shiny, it is sharp and it is loud! It creates a natural inspiration to run unlike any other horror movie killer weapon.  Texas Chainsaw and Leatherface fans want to know…is the horror slasher weapon from the movies actually real or just a fake prop?

Leatherface Chainsaw Facts

Horror Enthusiast has scoured interviews, director’s cuts, trivia and behind the scenes archives to discover the truth behind the chainsaw.

Authentic From The Start

The original movie, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) featured a very real chainsaw.  They selected a Poulan 306a.  Although Gunnar Hansen (Leatherface) makes it look like it weighs nothing, the Poulan 306a actually weighed almost 13 pounds (at the end of it’s production in 1980, it may have weighed even more when yielded by Leatherface)! It was very common in the 70s and is now considered an official collector’s item…and that’s mostly just because it was an awesome chainsaw!

American Built

Ditching the Poulan 306a, the first sequel in the franchise chose to employ the Craftsman 4300. Ironically, this model was still manufactured by Poulan FOR Craftsman.

Lefty’s shiny silver chainsaw was an unknown model made by Dolmar (German chainsaw company).

Additionally, Grandma’s Saw was a Poulan 361.

Going Custom

Leatherface III (1991) used an awesome, custom-built Stihl 066 Magnum.  The chainsaw was also chromed out (custom job in done in California) and even had a custom 36” bar. These were made in the late eighties and early nineties.

Back to the Basics

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1997) chose to return to the basics and outfitted Leatherface Robert Jacks with a simpler chainsaw.  The McCulloch 700 was a super average chainsaw and is very commonly mistook for being the same model as used in the original (1974) Texas Chainsaw movie.

Versatile and Reliable

Marketed as one of the more versatile chainsaws, the Husqvarna 359 is carried by Andrew Bryniarski as Leatherface in the 2003 Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake and the 2006 prequel. This chainsaw featured a custom bar, just like the chainsaw used by an earlier, 1991 Leatherface.

Final Notes About Leatherface’s Chainsaw

In conclusion, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre appears to create authentic fear in the on-screen victims…and it most certainly creates fear in the audience. A lot of that fear is broken down into the good mechanics of a loud, working chainsaw…and many times, the chainsaw was indeed real! As many of the actors and actresses who have actually participated in a Texas Chainsaw film: it feels really dangerous and is truly terrifying to experience, even when it is all fake and for a movie!

Tritone

Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.

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The post Was the Chainsaw Used in Texas Chainsaw Massacre Real? appeared first on Puzzle Box Horror.

The beloved flesh-wearing favorite, Leatherface, has been responsible for some of the most gruesome kills on screen of all time.  He is a terrifying monster to encounter, especially if you’re traveling in a Volkswagen bus from the 70s!  With that being said, many horror movie fans wonder, how did the Texas Chainsaw Massacre get so gruesome? What were the deciding factors in determining the scariest look and feel to this horror classic?  Horror Enthusiast has searched deep through the horror and ‘macabre’ that was witnessed throughout the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies to find the most interesting and amazing Leatherface and Texas Chainsaw facts!

Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movie Trivia

Two Family Names: Hewitt and Sawyer

The sadistic, cannibalistic family that stars throughout the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies actually had two different last names, depending upon the movie in the franchise.  The first, third and fourth movies did not give the family a last name.  The second film refers to the family as the “Sawyers.”  The fifth and sixth Texas Chainsaw installments use the last name “Hewitt.” And the seventh and eighth movies return to using last name “Sawyer.” No clear reason has been given for the name change.

Tobe Hooper Has Hooks In Place

Director of the original 1974 horror masterpiece, has been somehow involved in literally every single Texas Chainsaw Massacre project.  He directed and helped write the first two films. He helped write the 3^rd and 4^th films. And he helped write and/or produce the 5^th, 6^th, 7^th and 8^th films. 

A Director Fired and Then Rehired

The third movie in the installment, Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III 1990), lost it’s director, Jeff Burr, when he was fired near the beginning of production.  After looking for a new director and finding no one else would accept the job, he was rehired.

The True Inspiration for Leatherface Wasn’t Ed Gein

A lot of people instantly assume that Ed Gein was the primary inspiration for a flesh-mask-wearing killer. However, Tobe Hooper reveals in an interview that the true inspiration for Leatherface was a story he heard from a doctor once about his time in medical school.  The doctor was taking a cadaver class and decided to creep into the morgue at night and skin one alive to create a scary Halloween mask for himself.

…and thus Leatherface was born…

Top Grossing Chainsaw Films

Other than the original movie, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), only the 5^th installment has not been a flop.  The 5^th movie, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) was slated to be a loose remake of the original, with Jessica Biel leading the cast.  The original movie made a profit of more than $30 million dollars (US domestic box office), while the 2003 remake raked in a whopping profit of more than $70 million (again, US domestic)!  No other chainsaw movie has come close to a profit even close to the original film!

The Worst Grossing Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movie

Most people recognize the second movie as the worst (probably because they go to see a horror film and wind up seeing a comedy). However, truthfully, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 doubled it’s budget in US domestic gross.  The worst movie in the franchise was the 4^th in the franchise, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994).  Despite this flop making less than $150,000 in the United States, this film featured some of the cast most famous today from any of the Texas Chainsaw movies. The fourth installment will showcase both Renee Zellweger and also Matthew McConaughey.  In fact, Sony would try to re-release this flop a few years later after McConaughey and Zellweger would rise to fame.  After they threatened to bail on all future Sony projects, the re-release was halted.

A Damaged Soul

Most horror fans do not realize that Leatherface did not start out so evil.  He was injured and suffered facial damage, as revealed by director Jeff Burr in an interview following the third movie, Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III.  Burr also speculated his vocal cords could have been damaged as a result of the injury, hence his inability to talk.  However, other sources have indicated a mental deficiency and that Leatherface was born a little slow (also providing a possible explanation as to why he is mute).  Regardless, plenty of the movies and/or the comic series give the audience ample reason to feel badly for Leatherface, despite his murders.

Cameo Appearance: Marilyn Burns

A lot of fans seem to miss Marilyn Burns’ cameo appearance in the fourth film, Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994). In one of the final scenes in the hospital, she is a patient that is on the gurney. In the credits, this role is listed as “Anonymous.”

Real Chainsaws

While theme parks around the world hosting their version of “Halloween” mode feature a ton of fake chainsaw-wielding actors…the real Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies used real chainsaws. They were scary and intimidating.  Actor Renee Zellweger commented in multiple interviews that the experience was dangerous, and she wasn’t sure it was all legal.  She explained that a real chainsaw behind you made for incredible motivation!

A Narrator to Remember

Almost any Texas Chainsaw Massacre fan can recall the eerie feeling they get when the original movie begins with a crude film strip and narrator voicing an introduction about the “terror and macabre” that the young persons would experience that day.  What most people do not realize, is the same narrator was hired to record the narration for the 2003 remake! It is the same voice folks!

The Original Film Title

There were a number of choices for the original film title. Two of the most notable runner-ups to the eventually-selected “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” included “Head Cheese” and “Leatherface.”  Leatherface would later be used in a couple of film titles…making it’s debut; however, Head Cheese would only appear in the script of the first movie, serving as some Volkswagen butchery small talk.

Final Words About the Making of the Texas Chainsaw Franchise

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise has set the bar quite high for slasher movies in the similar horror sub-genre of “getting stranded in a remote place.”  The truly horrifying results of long-term gore and carnage by Leatherface and his family has left their properties riddled with human remains and flesh, creating an immensely terrifying movie setting. Ultimately, Leatherface is one of the scariest, careless and most viscous killers of all horror movie slashers. He will likely go on to mutilate many more victims and remains one of the most feared killers of all time!

Tritone

Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.

puzzleboxhorror.com

The post Surprising Facts About The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Films appeared first on Puzzle Box Horror.

What Myers-Briggs Personality Type Would Leatherface Have?

Leatherface is an ISF-P Myers-Briggs personality type.

Leatherface is more complicated than he looks and possesses a lot of characteristics under the surface.  These personality traits have contributed to his suspected personality type.

Not a People Person

Although Leatherface has a few close family members he sees on a regular basis, he seems to really enjoy his alone time.  He enjoys to do things himself, and really wants to put his hands on things he may be focusing on.  This personality trait ranks him a strong “I” Introversion.

Reserved and Hesitant

It may be a tough decision for Leatherface to jump quickly into any action due to his fear of consequence. His entire life he has been punished and practically abused; thus as much as it may seem he is impulsing rushing at victims, he is actually quite a reserved killer, only acting on his family’s demands like a dog. This reservation and disregard for how realistic his family’s orders may be, contribute to his ranking “I” Introversion.

Obedient Soldier

The facts of Leatherface’s life are: follow orders or be punished. He is loyal to his family, despite always being bossed around and yelled at.  Every once in a while, they cross the line, but most of the time, Leatherface is seen as obedient. Most of his family’s demands are to murder or otherwise disfigure the family’s victims.  His lack of “big picture” vision ranks him more as “S” Sensing than intuitive.

Based Upon Experience

Leatherface thinks in simplistic fashion, using only basic facts as building blocks to complete his tasks.  He requires experiences in order to feel confident, obedient, or fearful.  Leatherface’s past has led him to fear disappointing his family, to try to avoid letting a victim survive, and to get the most out of the little things in life.  Living life based upon the black and white perspective of past events also makes Leatherface rank “S” Sensing.

Concerned With What Others Think

Leatherface has always been concerned of what others think about him. This type of personality trait has led him to murder his peers and boss over their heartless accusations of him being a “retard,” “retarded,” and a “dumb animal.”  Leatherface is also seen in many films in absolute emotional devastation after disappointing one of his family members.  In fact, his need for approval is one of his biggest motivators, making him a powerful “F” Feeling.

Yearns for Peace and Harmony

Ironically, the horror slasher Leatherface is a big softy deep down inside! He is so distraught any time his family is a muck and seeks stability.  Leatherface does not murder his family, ever, but instead enjoys nightly family dinners and playing peacefully in his room.  Additionally, he has even been caught empathizing with a victim or two, all making for a really mushy rank of “F” Feeling.

Plays With His Food

This chainsaw-loving monster also loves to play with his food before dinner.  Frequently, Leatherface can be found mutilating, using makeup on, or otherwise exchanging heartfelt interactions with his victims before their demise. This sense of playfulness and the presence of a child-based intellect create the perfect atmosphere for a rank of “P” Perceiving when it comes to personalities!

Highly Flexible Killer

No matter the victim’s size, confidence or escape plan, Leatherface is one horror villain who is down for whatever! He has been seen chasing victims through houses, the streets, factories, the woods, and even through the top of a bus.  And he’s ready to drop anything he’s doing to respond to the murderous calls of his family members…making him a strongly flexible killer and a strong “P” Perceiving rank.

Final Mental Health Notes on Leatherface

Leatherface is much more complicated than he appears, offering a variety of submissive, obedient traits that mask a need to be accepted (pun intended).  He is not very friendly to the outside world, but most definitely loves his family. In the end, Leatherface’s Myers-Briggs personality type of ISF-P has made him an extremely interesting and thrilling horror slasher to watch!

Tritone

Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.

puzzleboxhorror.com

The post What Personality Type is Leatherface? appeared first on Puzzle Box Horror.