#Texas chain saw massacre 1974 serial#
#Texas chain saw massacre 1974 series#

In the end, the sole survivor Sally Hardesty ( Marilyn Burns), escapes as Leatherface angrily flails his chainsaw in the blazing sun. In the film, Leatherface ( Gunnar Hansen) and his family, former slaughterhouse workers, capture and murder a group of teenagers one-by-one as they trespass upon their property. Leatherface made his first appearance in the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre on October 11, 1974. Following his first appearance on the silver screen, Leatherface has appeared in various other entertainment mediums, which include comic book lines, novelizations, and video games each appearance expands upon the universe created by the films. Leatherface is the only character to appear in all nine films in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise, with later films exploring different aspects of him, while changing the overall history of the character and his family.

#Texas chain saw massacre 1974 series#

Leatherface has since been parodied and referenced in novels, feature films, games, and television series in addition to being an inspiration for many artistic outlets, fictional characters, heavy metal bands, and wrestling gimmicks. He has been credited as one of the most influential characters of the slasher genre for inspiring the stereotype of the hulking, masked, and silent killer, predating and even influencing horror icons such as Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees. Leatherface has gradually become a widely recognized figure in popular culture, gaining a reputation as a cultural icon within the horror genre. Unique among horror villains, in which most antagonists of the genre are usually classified as sadistic or evil Leatherface is characterized as committing his brutal acts as a means of following his family's orders, while also killing out of fear. The character's physical appearance and personality have gone through many transformations over the years, with various writers and special makeup effects artists leaving their mark on the character and his design. Since Hansen's portrayal of Leatherface, numerous other actors and stuntmen have assumed the role of the character throughout the course of the series. Icelandic-American actor Gunnar Hansen would be the first and most well-known actor to portray the character, later going on to become a vocal advocate for the character. The role of the character is well known for being physically and emotionally challenging, with actors portraying the character not only needing to perform the necessary stunts associated with the role, but also give emotional depth to the character while wearing a mask that greatly obscured most of their features.

The character has subsequently been represented in various other media, including novels, video games, and comic books appearing in all nine films in the series, though rarely as the main antagonist.

#Texas chain saw massacre 1974 serial#

Created by Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel, Leatherface was partially inspired by the crimes of Wisconsin murderer Ed Gein, in addition to confessions by serial killer Elmer Wayne Henley. He first appeared in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) as the mentally disabled member of a family of deranged cannibals, featuring his now iconic face masks and chainsaw. Leatherface is a character from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre series. Jedidiah 'Jed' Sawyer ( Texas Chainsaw 3D, Leatherface) Gunnar Hansen as Leatherface from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)