Welcome, everyone, to Horrorfest 2020, our annual event where I, Red Lanyard, tell you about terrific (and sometimes absurd) horror movies during the month of October to help you prepare for Halloween, the most wonderful time of the year! This year for Horrorfest, I’m structuring my pieces around various icons of horror–the people, either real or fictional, who have made our beloved genre the delightful niche and multi-million dollar industry that it is today. This first week, I’ll be highlighting some of the fictional antagonists who have carried the horror genre on their backs, briefly discussing what they’ve contributed to our macabre hobby and a recommendation for you to watch. Enjoy!
Leatherface (Texas Chainsaw Massacre)
I’ve decided to begin this first week of legendary slashers with arguably the OG: Leatherface. While TCM and Black Christmas came out the same year, and Bay of Blood predates both of these films while laying a claim to the real first slasher movie, neither of these films have had the cultural impact or the staying power of TCM. Furthermore, few slasher antagonists have had the influence and overall fear factor of Leatherface, a fact that is unique for a few reasons.
When TCM premiered in 1974 on a wildly low budget, Leatherface was an obvious standout of the movie. His imposing size, horrific appearance, and bewildering behavior as he cracked the skulls of a group of college kids struck fear into the hearts of its audience. However, Leatherface stands out as having relatively little development in his horror debut compared to his 70s and 80s peers. Consider other horror icons: Freddy, Jason, Michael, even Pinhead from Hellraiser got significantly more backstory in their first films than Leatherface. Even his first appearance in TCM reflects this–a towering monstrosity abruptly appears, slaps the hell out of a protagonist home invader, and disappears into his workshop. Though he gets more character development and backstory in sequels, Leatherface stands out in the horror genre not only for his early appearance but also for inherent unknown that surrounds him. An animalistic man wearing the skin of another serving as the executor and cook for his cannibalistic family, Leatherface’s horror lies in his being an enigma. Add to this the fact that we didn’t get a sequel for 12 years, and one can easily see how poor Sally’s horror was based in abject bewilderment at what she had experienced. And yet, despite a relative lack of knowledge about what makes the character tick, pop culture has incorporated Leatherface’s imagery as a pillar of horror, as evidenced by the surplus of chainsaws and hillbilly iconography at every haunted house and cliche movie or video game horror trope.
I cannot recommend the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre enough. Whether you’re a new horror fan dipping their toes into the genre or a seasoned veteran due for a rewatch, it’s always great to revisit Leatherface’s original appearance and see just how influential of a character he was before the slasher subgenre really took off. At the time of this publishing, the original TCM is available on Tubi, a free streaming app you can get on the computer and most current video game consoles and smart phones.
