Leatherface Review: The Texas chainsaw wielding monster Leatherface gets an origin story in the latest franchise instalment.
Leatherface Review
Leatherface, like his iconic horror counterpart’s Freddy Krueger and Hannibal Lecter, has been featured in a huge number of sequels over the years. The original 1974 masterpiece shocked the world, and went down as one of the most terrifying slasher movies of all time. Unfortunately for the Sawyer family, the deranged cannibals have never managed to reach the same heights. Now, it’s time for the inevitable origin story for Jed Sawyer and his chainsaw wielding alter ego. How does the film hold up against the original? And, more importantly, is it an improvement on the plethora of sequels, reboots, and prequels we’ve already been subjected to?
Few fans were holding out hope for the newest entry in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise. Each new instalment appears to share more in common with the masks worn on the face of its central character. Cold, lifeless, and ultimately a shell used to cover up the hideous face underneath. The only problem is the real monster here is corporate greed, and studio desperation.
Leatherface Review
Unfortunately, this prequel wont do much to wash away the sour taste left over from 2013’s lacklustre Texas Chainsaw. Set in the same timeline as the the former, and taking place a few years prior to the original, Leatherface promised to reveal exactly why the character became the unhinged maniac we all know and love. The only problem is that it doesn’t actually offer any real explanation for the characters origin. By the end of the film, the audience is still in the dark about a number of key plot points. Once again we are expected to blindly believe that the Sawyer family were born as psychopathic cannibals, and that chainsaw’s are likely just their favourite hardware tool.
The film also makes the familiar mistake of painting Leatherface, one of cinemas most horrifying creations, as a sympathetic character. A decision that, while interesting, ultimately weakens a villain who was originally scary for his animalistic behaviour and mystery. In terms of the character’s development, the film does offer a genuinely surprising twist at the conclusion of the narrative. This should offer some semblance of shock, even if it does require an additional level of suspending disbelief. But, at this point the franchise has become so ludicrously implausible that shouldn’t come as a problem.
Leatherface Review
After breaking out of a mental institution early on, the film takes a strange detour into Bonnie and Clyde-territory as we follow Jed and his short-lived group of friends. This odd direction does quickly distract you from the overall story, and makes it very easy to forget which film you’re actually watching. Stephen Dorff (Blade), and Finn Jones (Marvel’s Iron Fist) also star as two Texas rangers hot on the tail of the group. These two are entertaining enough to make the film tolerable, and it’s always a treat to see Dorff these days.
Overall, Leatherface is an uninspired prequel that wont silence any critics of the already-tired series. Fans may live in hope that if they continue to churn out additional entries in the franchise, Tobe Hooper will make a long-awaited return to the directors chair. Otherwise, it looks like Leatherface is quickly heading to the slaughterhouse.
Leatherface review by Ben Read, August 2017.
Leatherface is currently playing as part of the Horror Channel Frighfest 2017 programme.
