Tag: Texas Chainsaw Massacre

C H I S T W

Was the Chainsaw Used in Texas Chainsaw Massacre Real?

Categories
Scary Movies and Series

About The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Chainsaw

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!

Advertisements

Join "The Horror List" for Weekly Horror in your inbox






Recent Posts

What Personality Type is Leatherface?

Categories
Scary Movies and Series

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s Leatherface is a notorious chainsaw-wielding horror slasher villain who has literally cut through dozens of people.  But where does he get his drive and where does he find his satisfaction in life? What does the real Leatherface want out of life?  Horror Enthusiast has boiled the human stew down to the bottom of the pot to reveal the true grit, offering the most accurate Myers-Briggs personality type possible for the slasher.

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 chainsawing a victim illustration

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!

blank

Advertisements

Join "The Horror List" for Weekly Horror in your inbox






Recent Posts

Which is the Scariest Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movie

Categories
Featured Scary Movies and Series

Which Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movie is Scariest?

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)

1st 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)

2nd 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)

3rd 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 3rd scariest movie in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise.

Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990)

4th 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)

5th 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)

6th 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)

7th 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

Texas chainsaw Massacre chainsaw painting

8th 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!

blank

Advertisements

Join "The Horror List" for Weekly Horror in your inbox






Recent Posts

Join The Horror List