The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (franchise) explained

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Creator:Kim Henkel
Tobe Hooper
Origin:The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Films:List of films
Owner:Vortex Inc.
Years:1974–present
Books:Chain Saw Confidential (2013)
Novels:The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2004)
Comics:List of comics

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is an American horror franchise created by Kim Henkel and Tobe Hooper. It consists of nine films, comics, a novel, and two video game adaptations. The franchise focuses on the cannibalistic spree killer Leatherface (who uses a chainsaw as his signature weapon) and his family, who terrorize unsuspecting visitors to their territories in the desolate Texas countryside, typically killing and subsequently cooking them.

The film series has grossed over $252 million at the worldwide box office.

Films

FilmU.S. release dateDirector(s) Screenwriter(s) Producer(s)
The Texas Chain Saw MassacreOctober 11, 1974Tobe HooperKim Henkel and Tobe HooperTobe Hooper
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2August 22, 1986L.M. Kit CarsonMenahem Golan and Yoram Globus
January 12, 1990Jeff BurrDavid SchowRobert Engelman
The Return of the Texas Chainsaw MassacreMarch 12, 1995Kim HenkelKim Henkel and Robert Kuhn
The Texas Chainsaw MassacreOctober 17, 2003Marcus NispelScott KosarMichael Bay and Mike Fleiss
October 6, 2006Jonathan LiebesmanSheldon TurnerMichael Bay,
Mike Fleiss, Kim Henkel, Tobe Hooper, Brad Fuller, and Andrew Form
Texas Chainsaw 3DJanuary 4, 2013John LuessenhopAdam Marcus, Debra Sullivan, and Kristen EllisCarl Mazzocone
LeatherfaceOctober 20, 2017Julien Maury and Alexandre BustilloSeth M. SherwoodChrista Campbell, Lati Grobman, Carl Mazzocone, and Les Weldon
Texas Chainsaw MassacreFebruary 18, 2022David Blue GarciaChris Thomas DevlinFede Álvarez, Herbert W. Gains, Kim Henkel, Ian Henkel, and Pat Cassidy

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, released in 1974, written and directed by Tobe Hooper, was the first and most successful entry in the series. It is considered to be the first of the 1970s slasher films, and originated a great many of the clichés seen in countless later low-budget slashers. Its plot concerns a family of cannibals living in rural Texas, who abduct customers from their gas station. The film's most notable character, Leatherface, is one of the most well-known villains in cinema history, notable for his masks made of human skin, his blood-soaked butcher's apron and the chainsaw he wields.[2] Although the film is marketed as a true story, it does not depict actual events, and is instead (as with the film Psycho) inspired by notorious killer Ed Gein, who acted alone and did not use a chainsaw.[3]

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) is set 13 years after the events of the first film. Although it managed to recoup its relatively small budget, the film was not considered a financial success. Since its initial release, however, it has developed a cult following of its own. Unlike its predecessor, which combined minimal gore with a documentary-style nature, the sequel is a comedic horror film, filled with black humor and various gore effects created by make-up maestro Tom Savini. The film features an appearance by novelist Kinky Friedman as well as film critic Joe Bob Briggs. Briggs' cameo appearance was originally cut in editing, but was restored for the director's cut version of the film when it was released on DVD.

is a 1990 follow-up to the previous two films. It stars Kate Hodge, Ken Foree, and Viggo Mortensen and was directed by Jeff Burr. At the time, this was considered to be the first of several sequels in the series to be produced by New Line Cinema, but was not a commercial success, and New Line had no further involvement in the series. The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1995) is the fourth film in the original series. It received a limited release in 1995 through Columbia Pictures, and was given a limited re-release in 1997 under the new title Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation in hopes of capitalizing on the elevated public profiles of stars Renée Zellweger and Matthew McConaughey in the wake of their 1996 films Jerry Maguire and A Time to Kill respectively.

The 2003 remake, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, directed by Marcus Nispel, written by Scott Kosar and produced by Michael Bay, is based on the events of the first film, but for the most part, it follows a different storyline. A major difference between the two films, for example, is that rather than picking up Leatherface's psychotic hitchhiker brother, the group instead come upon a traumatized survivor who shoots herself in their van. The film gives Leatherface's background, a real name (Thomas Brown Hewitt), as well as a possible reason for his wearing masks, namely a skin disease which has caused his nose to rot away. The remake received a mixed critical response upon release, but was financially successful enough to lead to a prequel, (2006), which takes place in 1969. Directed by Jonathan Liebesman, written by Sheldon Turner and produced by Michael Bay, it explores the roots of Leatherface's family and delves into their past. Leatherface's first mask is featured, as well as the first murder he commits using a chainsaw. It grossed less than its predecessor and has received a largely negative reception from film critics.

The seventh film, Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013), is a direct sequel to the original 1974 film, and makes no reference to the events of the other sequels. The film was directed by John Luessenhop, and written by Adam Marcus, Kirsten Elms, and Debra Sullivan. Texas Chainsaw follows a young girl named Heather, who is travelling to Texas with her friends to collect an inheritance from her deceased grandmother, whom she had never met. There, Heather discovers that she is part of the Sawyer family, who were killed by the townspeople following the events of the 1974 film, as well as a cousin of Leatherface. According to Seth M. Sherwood, writer of the prequel Leatherface (2017), the eighth film is part of a continuity that consists of Leatherface, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), and Texas Chainsaw 3D.[1]

Following the release of Leatherface, the producers had the rights to make five more Texas Chainsaw Massacre films. Producer Christa Campbell stated that the fate of the potential films would largely depend on the financial reception and perceived fan reactions regarding the 2017 prequel.[4] [5] Lionsgate and Millennium Films lost the franchise rights in December the same year due to the time it took to release it.[6] Legendary Entertainment subsequently acquired the franchise's rights with interest in developing television and film projects.[7] [8]

The ninth film, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, takes place 50 years after the events of the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre and is in continuity with the original series. The film stars Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Moe Dunford, Nell Hudson, Jessica Allain, Olwen Fouéré, Jacob Latimore, and Alice Krige.[9] In addition, Mark Burnham portrays an older Leatherface, replacing Gunnar Hansen, while Olwen Fouéré plays Sally Hardesty, replacing Marilyn Burns. Original directors, Ryan and Andy Tohill, were fired a week into filming and were replaced with David Blue Garcia.[10] [11] Chris Thomas Devlin wrote the screenplay with the story by Fede Álverez and Rodo Sayagues. The film skipped a theatrical release and was instead released on Netflix, on February 18, 2022.[12] [13] The film received mostly negative reviews.

An upcoming tenth film, Texas Chainsaw Legacy, is in development.[14]

Recurring cast and characters

CharacterAppearances
TCM TCM 2Leatherface: TCM IIIThe Return of TCMTCM TCM: The BeginningTC 3DLeatherface TCM
LeatherfaceGunnar HansenBill JohnsonR. A. Mihailoff
Robert JacksAndrew BryniarskiDan YeagerSam Strike
Mark Burnham
GrandfatherJohn DuganKen EvertGrayson Victor SchirmacherJohn DuganEduard Parsehyan
Sally HardestyMarilyn BurnsMarilyn BurnsMarilyn BurnsOlwen Fouéré
Old ManJim SiedowBill MoseleyDimo Alexiev

Reception

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre series, when compared to the other top-grossing American horror series—A Nightmare on Elm Street, Child's Play, Friday the 13th, Saw, Scream, and Halloween—and adjusting for 2023 inflation, is next to last with $459.7 million,[15] Halloween is the highest-grossing horror series in the United States at approximately $1.09 billion.[16] [17] Next in line is Friday the 13th at $908.4 million,[18] followed by the Nightmare on Elm Street series with $793.5 million.[19] The Scream film series is in fourth place with $779.5 million,[20] followed by the Saw series with $688.3 million,[21] and the Child's Play film series rounding out the list with $305.2 million.[22]

FilmRelease date (US)BudgetBox officeReference
United StatesInternationalWorldwide
1. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)October 11, 1974$300,000$30,859,000$1,378$30,860,378[23] [24]
2. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2August 22, 1986$4,700,000 $8,025,872$8,025,872[25]
3. Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre IIIJanuary 12, 1990$2,000,000$5,765,562$5,765,562[26]
4. The Return of the Texas Chainsaw MassacreSeptember 22, 1995
August 29, 1997
$600,000$185,898$185,898[27]
5. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)October 17, 2003$9,500,000$80,571,655$26,792,250$107,363,905[28]
6. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The BeginningOctober 6, 2006$16,000,000$39,517,763$12,246,643$51,764,406[29]
7. Texas Chainsaw 3DJanuary 4, 2013$20,000,000$34,341,945$12,998,641$47,340,586[30]
8. LeatherfaceOctober 20, 2017$1,476,843$1,476,843[31]
Total$50,340,000$199,267,695$53,515,755$252,783,450

Other media

Books

Stephen Hand wrote a novelization of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre that was published March 1, 2004, by Black Flame.[32]

Comics

See main article: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (comics). Several comic books based on The Texas Chainsaw Massacre films were published in 1991 by Northstar Comics entitled Leatherface.[33] They were licensed as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre to Avatar Press for use in new comic book stories, the first of which was published in 2005.[34] In 2006, Avatar Press lost the license to DC Comics imprint, Wildstorm, which has published new stories based on the films. However, in June 2007, Wildstorm changed a number of horror comics, including The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, from monthly issues to specials and miniseries.[35]

The series of comics featured none of the main characters seen in the original film (Topps Comics Jason vs. Leatherface series is exempt) with the exception of Leatherface. The 1991 Leatherface miniseries was loosely based on the third Texas Chainsaw Massacre film. The writer of the miniseries, Mort Castle said: "The series was very loosely based on Texas Chainsaw Massacre III. I worked from the original script by David Schow and the heavily edited theatrical release of director Jeff Burr, but had more or less free rein to write the story the way it should have been told. The first issue sold 30,000 copies".[36] Kirk Jarvinen drew the illustrations for the first issue,[37] and Guy Burwell finished the rest of the series. The comics, not having the same censorship restrictions from the MPAA, featured much more gore than the finished film. The ending, as well as the fates of several characters, was also altered. An adaptation of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was planned by Northstar Comics, but never came to fruition.[38]

Video games

Thus far, three video games based on the franchise have seen release.

In 1983, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, a mass-market video game adaptation of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was released for the Atari 2600 by Wizard Video.[39] In the game, the player assumes the role of Leatherface, and attempts to murder trespassers while avoiding obstacles such as fences and cow skulls.[40] As one of the first horror-themed video games, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre caused controversy when it was released due to the violent nature of the video game and sold poorly as many video game stores refused to carry it.[39] [41] Wizard Video's other commercial release, Halloween, had a slightly better reception,[42] but the limited number of copies sold has made both games highly valued items among Atari collectors.[43]

In 2006, HeroCraft with publisher MindMatics released the mobile game Texas Chainsaw Massacre under license from New Line Cinema.[44] [45]

At The Game Awards held in December 2021, a new game titled The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, based around the original film, was announced, to be released by Gun Interactive, the company behind .[46] The game was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on August 18, 2023, also releasing on Xbox Game Pass on the same day.[47] [48] [49] [50]

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre content has been featured in the video games Mortal Kombat X,[51] [52] Dead by Daylight,[53] Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and Rocket League.[54]

All American Massacre

In 1998, filming began for All American Massacre, and was to be the series' fifth installment which would have served as both a sequel and prequel to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.[55] The film was initially conceived as a 15-minute short, but was expanded to a 60-minute feature.[56] It was directed by William Hooper, son of Tobe Hooper. Bill Moseley reprised his role as the character Chop Top, who would have been revealed to have survived the events of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 and been in a Texas psychiatric prison for a number of years. The plot of the film would have centered on Chop Top detailing his past in an interview with a news crew, before carrying out a new series of murders. A trailer for All American Massacre was released on the internet, but the film itself was never released. As of July 2024, the film has yet to ever release.

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. News: McGrew. Shannon. Interview: Writer Seth Sherwood Talks Origins of Leatherface. May 29, 2017. iHorror. May 22, 2017.
  2. Book: Hooper, Tobe. Henkel, Kim . Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Leatherface.. Script City.
  3. Book: Rockoff, Adam. Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film, 1978-1986. McFarland.
  4. Web site: Zimmerman. Samuel. Sequel Talk: Flipping It Follows, More Leatherface. ComingSoon.Net. April 8, 2015. November 13, 2017. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20171113154955/http://www.comingsoon.net/horror/news/745509-sequel-talk-flipping-follows-leatherface. November 13, 2017.
  5. Web site: Walkuski, Eric . EXCLUSIVE: LEATHERFACE PRODUCERS TALK HARDCORE PREQUEL AND DAY OF THE DEAD! . JoBlo. 2015-04-10 . 2017-06-19.
  6. Web site: Campbell. Crista. christa campbell on Twitter. Twitter. December 25, 2017. December 27, 2017. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20171228050900/https://twitter.com/christacampbell/status/945392066414100480. December 28, 2017.
  7. Web site: Miska. Brad. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre' Franchise Carving Out Television Series, New Film Deal [Exclusive]]. Bloody Disgusting. August 24, 2018. August 28, 2018.
  8. Web site: Sprague . Mike . Texas Chainsaw Massacre TV Series coming via Legendary Pictures? . Joblo.com . 24 August 2018 . Mike Sprague . 29 August 2018.
  9. Web site: Sprague . Mark . April 15, 2021 . SNew TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE Gets Official Title and R-Rating for Strong Bloody Horror Violence, Gore & More! . April 15, 2021 . Dread Central.
  10. Web site: Fleming. Jr . Mike . August 24, 2020 . 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' Bloodbath: Directors Chopped Along With Early Scenes As Pic Shuts One Week In And David Blue Garcia Takes Reins . October 3, 2020 . Deadline Hollywood.
  11. Web site: 'Don't Breathe 2' & 'Texas Chainsaw' Sequel Are Finished and Fantastic Teases Producer . . Jon . Fuge . March 22, 2021 . April 8, 2021.
  12. Collins . Clark . 2021-12-03 . Leatherface is back in first look at buzzy 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' . 2021-12-03 . . en.
  13. Web site: Kit . Borys . 2021-08-30 . Netflix Picks Up 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' From Legendary (Exclusive) . 2021-08-30 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
  14. Web site: Squires . John . 2024-02-05 . New ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ Movie in the Works? Here’s the Latest Rumor . 2024-07-20 . Bloody Disgusting! . en-US.
  15. Web site: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre box office rankings. Box Office Mojo. 2008-01-17.
  16. Web site: Tom's Inflation Calculator. Halfhill.com. September 21, 2011.
  17. Web site: Halloween box office rankings. Box Office Mojo. 2008-05-22.
  18. Web site: Friday the 13th box office ranking. Box Office Mojo. 2008-05-22.
  19. Web site: A Nightmare on Elm Street box office rankings. Box Office Mojo. 2008-05-22.
  20. Web site: Scream box office rankings. Box Office Mojo. 2008-01-17.
  21. Web site: Saw box office rankings. Box Office Mojo. 2008-09-05.
  22. Web site: Child's Play box office rankings. Box Office Mojo. 2008-01-17.
  23. Web site: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). Box Office Mojo. 2008-09-05.
  24. Web site: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Franchise Box Office History. 2020-11-07. The Numbers.
  25. Web site: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986). Box Office Mojo. 2008-09-05.
  26. Web site: Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990). Box Office Mojo. 2008-09-05.
  27. Web site: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1995). Box Office Mojo. 2008-09-05.
  28. Web site: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003). Box Office Mojo. 2008-09-05.
  29. Web site: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006). Box Office Mojo. 2008-09-05.
  30. Web site: Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013). Box Office Mojo. IMDb.
  31. Web site: Leatherface. Box Office Mojo. Box Office Mojo. October 30, 2017.
  32. Book: Hand, Stephen. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. 2004. BL Publishing. 978-1-84416-060-0.
  33. Web site: Movie Maniac Comic Books. 2008-07-08. Icons of Fright.
  34. Web site: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. 2008-07-08. Avatar Press. 2005.
  35. Web site: DWildstorm Updates Publishing Plans for Horror/Movie Titles. 2008-08-21. Newsarama. March 13, 2007. 2009-02-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20090201123741/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=104993%2F. dead.
  36. Web site: MortCastle. 2008-06-01. Glasshouse Graphics. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090221110124/http://www.glasshousegraphics.com/creators/writers/mortcastle/index.htm. 2009-02-21.
  37. Web site: Kirk Jarvinen. 2008-07-11. Comic Book DB.
  38. Mort Castle. Hunters in the Night. Leatherface. 1. 4. 1991. Northstar Comics. 1/Introduction.
  39. Web site: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Atari game. 2008-06-01. GameSpot. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090201142130/http://uk.gamespot.com/atari2600/action/texaschainsawmassacre/index.html. 2009-02-01.
  40. Web site: Texas Chainsaw Massacre overview. https://archive.today/20120702213108/http://www.allgame.com/cg/agg.dll?p=agg&sql=1:9317. dead. July 2, 2012. 2008-06-01. Allgame.
  41. Web site: Classic horror movies on the Atari 2600. 2008-07-08. BavaTuesdays.com. April 27, 2008.
  42. Web site: Halloween for the Atari 2600. 2008-07-11. Rogue Cinema. April 1, 2008.
  43. Web site: Halloween. GameSpot. 2008-10-27. 2009-02-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20090202024918/http://uk.gamespot.com/atari2600/action/halloween/index.html. dead.
  44. Web site: 2010-01-15 . The two games based on the famous movies. - HeroCraft . https://web.archive.org/web/20100115213827/http://herocraft.com/en/about/news/news_detail.php?ID=3960 . dead . 2010-01-15 . 2024-06-27 .
  45. Web site: 2010-01-15 . Texas Chainsaw Massacre - HeroCraft . https://web.archive.org/web/20100115221112/http://herocraft.com/en/about/news/news_detail.php?ID=3994 . dead . 2010-01-15 . 2024-06-27 .
  46. Web site: Texas Chain Saw Massacre Online Game Announced. 2021-12-13. IGN. December 9, 2021.
  47. Web site: 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Game' Will Be Available Day 1 on the Xbox Game Pass. Bloody Disgusting. Mike. Wilson. April 21, 2023. April 21, 2023.
  48. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Gets August Release Date, Technical Test In May. https://web.archive.org/web/20230316172507/https://www.gameinformer.com/2023/03/16/the-texas-chain-saw-massacre-gets-august-release-date-technical-test-in-may. dead. March 16, 2023. Game Informer. Wesley. LeBlanc. March 16, 2023. April 21, 2023.
  49. Web site: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Release Date Announced in New Trailer. ComingSoon.net. Michael. Leri. March 16, 2023. April 21, 2023.
  50. Web site: The TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE Game Slashes Its Way Into Homes This August. Fangoria. Scott. Wampler. March 16, 2023. April 21, 2023.
  51. Web site: Mortal Kombat X Kombat Pack 2 Characters Revealed, Includes Leatherface, Xenomorph and More. 4 December 2015.
  52. Web site: Meet Mortal Kombat X's newest fighters: Leatherface, Alien and Triborg. Polygon. 12 January 2016.
  53. Web site: [Exclusive] Leatherface Joins Slasher Game 'Dead by Daylight' TODAY!. 14 September 2017.
  54. Web site: Season Six Reloaded: The Haunting of Verdansk Descends Upon Warzone™ and Modern Warfare®.
  55. Web site: Bill Moseley Played Chop Top in a 'Chainsaw 2' Sequel We May Never See. Squires. John. August 29, 2017. Bloody Disgusting. July 19, 2020.
  56. Book: Jaworzyn, Stefan. 2004. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Companion. Titan Books. 235. 978-1840236606.