An Ode to: Leatherface

I am notorious (in my own mind) for coming up with a regular post idea and never seeing it through. However, this is one I like the sound off, dedicating a week to a specific horror villain.  Two or three short posts discussing that villain and what makes him great.

 

Who better to start with that one of my personal favorite:- Leatherface

Modeled on serial killer Ed Gein, Leatherface was never really explained, not in the 1974 movie (the best of the bunch if you ask me). The one thing that is clear is that family means everything to him, and pleasing them at all costs is what drives him. You could maybe construe that it is actually innocence that makes him the killer he is, and in turns helps turn him into one of the most vicious characters in film history. While we later find out where Leatherface comes from, and see his first kill, the character itself remains a dark mystery. The later movies show his family as being a little more protective of him, but not much. They still use him as their puppet, which only lends credence to the theory that Leatherface himself is also a victim.

 

 

When it comes to horror villains, I struggle to think of one whose entrance alone leaves more of an impact than everybody’s favorite in-bred cannibal Mr. Leatherface.

From the first moment he appears on-screen and calmly caves in Kirk’s skull and patiently allows him to spasm for a while, to the very end, he is a force to be reckoned with. Very few characters could claim to have their legend created and cemented in one scene, even fewer can claim to do so without text,  and with but thirty or so seconds of screen time.

While he has been seen in many different guises over the years, the one thing has remained constant, in all the remakes and retellings, Leatherface remains a hulking beast of  man who enjoys hacking people up for the fun of it.

 

 

 

Aha, you must be here for the for the assistant job, please, step into my office and we can discuss your qualifications

Leatherface is relentless, goal oriented and willing to go to any lengths necessary in order to please his Daddy… achieve what is required.

Getting down and dirty for a hard day’s work. Nothing like it to build up an appetite.

I don’t think that there are many villains out there who could take on Leatherface and win. In my humble opinion he it tougher, and far scarier than Freddy or Jason, and looking the some of the modern-day horror villains, Hatchet and Chrome-skull just wouldn’t stand a chance against someone like Leatherface, then again, that is a post for a new day.

Come on Bitches, who wants some.