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.