January 14, 2016

Aw yeah! This week’s “character showdown” is dedicated to one of the most badass movie maniacs ever to grace the silver screen. I’m talking about Leatherface!

Ever since he first popped up from behind that metal door in Tobe Hooper’s 1974 masterpiece THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, wielding a giant mallet and bringing it down at full force into poor Kirk’s face, audiences have never been the same. Needless to say, the mere visual of Leatherface’s visage is so terrifying that you’re likely never to forget it once you see it.

Back in the 70’s, the prospect of getting a sequel to any movie, let alone a horror movie seemed ludicrous. So for a while there, I’m sure a lot of people felt a bit safer knowing that the terrors of Leatherface were confined to that brisk 83 minute running time of the original film, which they could either ignore or go re-experience at revival screenings. Alas, after more than a decade of silence, the saw was back for TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2! And with the sequel, we saw a new actor reinterpreting Leatherface in a whole new context.

Despite the poor reception to the movie going out unrated (and being completely different in tone to the original), it succeeded in developing a strong cult following over the years and because of that following, the franchise continued to flourish – although not without a tremendous set of obstacles ahead. We got two more sequels to the original franchise. A remake. A prequel to the remake. And most recently, a semi-sequel to the original movie, in 3D! And pretty soon we’ll have a prequel to the 3D sequel. (Did I get that right?)

There have been quite a few actors to don Leatherface’s trademark mask bound together from the skins of previous victims. And each brought their own little quirks and eccentricities to their interpretation. Let’s take a look at them all and find out which one was YOUR favorite.

Gunnar Hansen – THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE

Gunnar Hansen was, of course, the originator of the Leatherface role. In preparation, he spent a lot of time at a mentally disabled health facility, observed and assimilated a lot of what he saw there to properly embody Leatherface. He also saw Leatherface’s role in the family shifting depending on which “face” mask he was wearing. His first one is kind of his hunter/gatherer “scary” look. If anything, it’s meant to scare the hell out of anyone that comes near that house, and that includes us, the audience! But we quickly see in the aftermath of his first 2 kills that he reverts to a confused and terrified child. Later on, he’s dons a female face and assumes the role of the domesticated “mother” in the family. He takes it even further with the final mask which has actual beauty make-up. There’s so much going on with the way Gunnar approached this character that it’s still a marvel to watch his performance to this day. His book Chainsaw Confidential offers a very intimate look into what he was thinking during the course of the entire shoot and we strongly recommend checking it out for a full understanding of how this terrifying and iconic character was born.

Gunnar Hansen was, of course, the originator of the Leatherface role. In preparation, he spent a lot of time at a mentally disabled health facility, observed and assimilated a lot of what he saw there to properly embody Leatherface. He also saw Leatherface’s role in the family shifting depending on which “face” mask he was wearing. His first one is kind of his hunter/gatherer “scary” look. If anything, it’s meant to scare the hell out of anyone that comes near that house, and that includes us, the audience! But we quickly see in the aftermath of his first 2 kills that he reverts to a confused and terrified child. Later on, he’s dons a female face and assumes the role of the domesticated “mother” in the family. He takes it even further with the final mask which has actual beauty make-up. There’s so much going on with the way Gunnar approached this character that it’s still a marvel to watch his performance to this day. His book Chainsaw Confidential offers a very intimate look into what he was thinking during the course of the entire shoot and we strongly recommend checking it out for a full understanding of how this terrifying and iconic character was born.

Bill Johnson – THE TEXAS CHAINSAW 2

Whereas Leatherface was somewhat a child in the original, by the 2nd movie, which takes place 12 years later, Bill Johnson plays him as a confused teenager, just reaching that pivotal age of sexual awakening. He’s still vicious, but is completely enamored with Stretch (Caroline Williams) and can’t quite grasp what these weird “feelings” are that he’s suddenly having. His chainsaw definitely symbolizes his… well, desires. But his raw energy and anger is that of a teenage boy. And one that gets repeatedly taunted by his older brother. Lots of fun, subtle things that Johnson brought to the role here, which makes Leatherface both scary and more importantly fun to watch this go round.

Whereas Leatherface was somewhat a child in the original, by the 2nd movie, which takes place 12 years later, Bill Johnson plays him as a confused teenager, just reaching that pivotal age of sexual awakening. He’s still vicious, but is completely enamored with Stretch (Caroline Williams) and can’t quite grasp what these weird “feelings” are that he’s suddenly having. His chainsaw definitely symbolizes his… well, desires. But his raw energy and anger is that of a teenage boy. And one that gets repeatedly taunted by his older brother. Lots of fun, subtle things that Johnson brought to the role here, which makes Leatherface both scary and more importantly fun to watch this go round.

R.A. Mihailoff – LEATHERFACE: TEXAS CHAINSAW 3

If Leatherface was a curious adolescent in Part 2, then by Part 3 he is the full on rebellious teenager. He’s the bad boy ready for college and whatever else is out in the world! He’s a strong presence and enforcer in his family unit. And it’s the first time where literally no one in the family taunts or talks down to him. A big part of that is the imposing stature and performance by R.A. Mihailoff. He’s as big and scary as they get here, and he becomes even more of a terrifying threat when he’s gifted by his family with his epic “Saw Is Family” 6 foot blade! He may have fought Dennis Hopper in the 2nd film, but here, Leatherface goes up against a truly worthy adversary in Benny! (played by Ken Foree!) I feel like this is the Leatherface that fully embraces his iconic horror heavy weight status!

If Leatherface was a curious adolescent in Part 2, then by Part 3 he is the full on rebellious teenager. He’s the bad boy ready for college and whatever else is out in the world! He’s a strong presence and enforcer in his family unit. And it’s the first time where literally no one in the family taunts or talks down to him. A big part of that is the imposing stature and performance by R.A. Mihailoff. He’s as big and scary as they get here, and he becomes even more of a terrifying threat when he’s gifted by his family with his epic “Saw Is Family” 6 foot blade! He may have fought Dennis Hopper in the 2nd film, but here, Leatherface goes up against a truly worthy adversary in Benny! (played by Ken Foree!) I feel like this is the Leatherface that fully embraces his iconic horror heavy weight status!

Robert Jacks – THE TEXAS CHAINSAW: THE NEXT GENERATION

There’s very little known about Robert Jacks as this particular sequel is his only prominent acting credit. But under the direction of Kim Henkel, who co-scripted the original, this is easily one of the most bizarre, androgynous takes on Leatherface! In this version, he fully embraces his feminine side and taking that “mother” role much more seriously than we’ve ever seen. Pretty much the entire family unit in PART 4 is bat-shit, including a young Matthew McConaughey, but this is the first time where Leatherface isn’t nearly as scary or threatening as a sole force in a sequel. The horrors come from the entire family unit, and their strange Illuminati ties. (If that is in fact what the hell is going on in this one!)

There’s very little known about Robert Jacks as this particular sequel is his only prominent acting credit. But under the direction of Kim Henkel, who co-scripted the original, this is easily one of the most bizarre, androgynous takes on Leatherface! In this version, he fully embraces his feminine side and taking that “mother” role much more seriously than we’ve ever seen. Pretty much the entire family unit in PART 4 is bat-shit, including a young Matthew McConaughey, but this is the first time where Leatherface isn’t nearly as scary or threatening as a sole force in a sequel. The horrors come from the entire family unit, and their strange Illuminati ties. (If that is in fact what the hell is going on in this one!)

Andrew Bryniarski – THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (2003)

Platinum Dunes went back to the beginning when it came time to reinterpret what made the original CHAINSAW the classic that it is. And with that, Andrew Bryniarski went after this role and went after it hard. None of the confusion or quirks of Leatherface’s previous incarnations are present here. He is a force of nature. He’s very angry, confident, mean and fully embraces being the monster. If you come anywhere near his path, you will face his wrath. Bryniarski’s version here went back to making Leatherface as scary and imposing as humanly possible.
Platinum Dunes went back to the beginning when it came time to reinterpret what made the original CHAINSAW the classic that it is. And with that, Andrew Bryniarski went after this role and went after it hard. None of the confusion or quirks of Leatherface’s previous incarnations are present here. He is a force of nature. He’s very angry, confident, mean and fully embraces being the monster. If you come anywhere near his path, you will face his wrath. Bryniarski’s version here went back to making Leatherface as scary and imposing as humanly possible.

Andrew Bryniarski – TEXAS CHAINSAW: THE BEGINNING

Bryniarski yet again got to reprise the role of Leatherface for this Platinum Dunes produced prequel, making him the only actor to ever play Leatherface more than once. He still harbors a lot of the hate and general contempt for regular “people” like we saw in the last movie, but with the beginning backstory, the full picture of how this particular family unit came together unfolds, and we get to see Leatherface in a somewhat more sympathetic light. He’s still a monster, and a terrifying one, but this version tries to show us why he is that way.

Bryniarski yet again got to reprise the role of Leatherface for this Platinum Dunes produced prequel, making him the only actor to ever play Leatherface more than once. He still harbors a lot of the hate and general contempt for regular “people” like we saw in the last movie, but with the beginning backstory, the full picture of how this particular family unit came together unfolds, and we get to see Leatherface in a somewhat more sympathetic light. He’s still a monster, and a terrifying one, but this version tries to show us why he is that way.

Dan Yeager – TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D

TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D was interesting in that it’s the only film in the franchise where Leatherface is not part of an ensemble. There’s no family unit and hence Dan Yeager is portraying a Leatherface that’s been alone for a number of years and seems to have a lot of pent up angry and issues with what happened to his family. (Rightfully so!) Granted, the other weird thing that the last prequel attempted to do was give Leatherface a somewhat sympathetic backstory so that the audiences allegiance would shift. But it’s really, really difficult to make Leatherface an anti-hero. But at least his cuz thinks otherwise!

TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D was interesting in that it’s the only film in the franchise where Leatherface is not part of an ensemble. There’s no family unit and hence Dan Yeager is portraying a Leatherface that’s been alone for a number of years and seems to have a lot of pent up angry and issues with what happened to his family. (Rightfully so!) Granted, the other weird thing that the last prequel attempted to do was give Leatherface a somewhat sympathetic backstory so that the audiences allegiance would shift. But it’s really, really difficult to make Leatherface an anti-hero. But at least his cuz thinks otherwise!