The slasher flick is about to tread into untested territory withLeatherface. It’s not unique for showing us akiller’s originstory.HalloweenandFriday the 13thboth did that right out of the gate. What we’ve never seen are theteenage yearsfor any of these monsters. Leatherface changes all that by delving into the mythos and early years of the killer at the heart of 1974’sThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Millennium Films has unleashed the scary first poster for Leatherface, and it promises a gritty, rain-soaked excursion into the mind of a realPsycho.
Leatherface isn’t just an origin story for the originalThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It’s also aScooby-Doo, Where Are You!typemurder-mystery. A young nurse is kidnapped by four violent teens who escape from a mental hospital and take her on a road trip from hell. Pursued by an equally deranged lawman out for revenge, one of these teens is destined for tragedy and horrors that will destroy his mind, molding him into the monster we now call Leatherface.
The movie will have fans wondering who the real killer is, and should be a hoot at the Magic Johnson theater chain, where you’re sure to get a little help identifying the real Leatherface from the always electric and very fun crowd. Like reboots in recent past, this movie, too, is positioning itself as the ‘real’ tale that lead to the events seen inThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre, directed by horror legendTobe Hooper. The prequel marks the eighth overall entry in the franchise, which currently includes the 1984 original, theTobe Hooperdirected 1986 sequelThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, 1990’s Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III, 1994’sThe Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacrewhich is notorious for featuringRenée ZellwegerandMatthew McConaugheybefore they were big stars, theThe Texas Chainsaw Massacreremake, which launched in 2003 and claimed to be ‘the real story’, 2006’sThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, which also sold itself as a prequel, and the last installment,Texas Chainsaw 3D, which attempted to reboot the horror series, calling itself the ‘true’ sequel to the original 1974 movie. As you may see, the Leatherface backstory is all over the map, with no real connective tissue between some of the films.
French filmmaking duo Julian Maury and Alexandre Bustillo are at the helm of Leatherface, their primary goal being to inject this franchise with some fresh new energy, hoping to carry it over into future sequels. Seth M. Sherwood makes his first foray into horror with the Leatherface screenplay. The movie boasts a decent enoughcast, withStephen Dorffleading the charge as thederanged sheriff.Angela Bettisand Sam Strike are also featured in this prequel.
Leatherface andThe Texas Chainsaw Massacreare both based on the legend of Ed Gein, an American killer and body snatcher who gained widespread notoriety after authorities discovered exhumed corpses from local graveyards inside his home, some of whom he’d fashioned into trophies and keepsakes.Psycho’s Norman Bates is also based on Ed Gein. A&E’sBates Moteldelves into the teenage persona of Bates quite nicely, beating Leatherface to the punch by three seasons. But if this member of the Sawyer clan is anything like what we’ve seen in previous movies, this will certainly be a wilder, much different take on the gruesome legend. And it all starts here with this poster. Take a look, lets just hope the shoes don’t give it away (they don’t look asylum issue, do they?).
