The Legacy of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

18 August 1973.

What should have been an idyllic summer afternoon in South Texas became a nightmare for five youths, particularly Sally Hardesty, and her invalid brother Franklin, as the events of that day led to the discovery of one of the most bizarre crimes in the annals of American history, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

Erroneous rip offs

The similarities in The Hills Have Eyes (1977) were intentional, as Wes Craven was a huge fan of Tobe Hooper's seminal work.

Motel Hell (1980) was a satire on other films, such as Psycho (1960) and Rob Zombie's debut House of 1000 Corpses (2003) is also given the benefit of the doubt.

But there's no defending this lot.

Slaughterhouse (1987)

The Butcher (2006)

Cannibal Farm aka Escape from Cannibal Farm (2017)

No Such Thing as Monsters (2019)

Now for the more obscure.

Butchers (2020)

Butchers Book Two: Raghorn (2024)

Butchers Book Three: Bonesaw (2024)

Although Adrian Langley directed trilogy, stories are unrelated.

Worst of all, and I mean WORST is:

Mary Had a Little Lamb (2022)

Best. Film. Ever.

Cash-in titles

The following are nothing like what you're led to believe.

Blackest Heart aka The German Texas Chainsaw Massacre - The First Hour of the Reunification¹ (1990)

Roadside Massacre aka The Texas Roadside Massacre (2012)

¹Marketed as a parody.

Video games

Atari 2600

Moot point of course, but 1982 prototype was meant to let you play the vengeful Leatherface, or an innocent victim looking for safety.

Sadly, no screens exist, but cover art was adapted from the 1982 Wizard VHS home release.

Poster (left) and Pam (right).

But I know what you're thinking.

Who the fuck is this guy?

Dick Tracy? Some generic detective?

Nobody knows.

1983 retail version 

Put aside your childish pastimes, stop eating dots and chasing ghosts!
A ripping revving chainsaw is at your command as you wear the leather mask of a madman! Your victims come face to face with a living nightmare as you wield the ultimate weapon - an unrelentless chainsaw! Let your most wicked fantasies go wild! Know the total pleasures of destruction as you pursue your victims with the razor sharp teeth of a hungry chainsaw! The story is true, the movie is chilling, the video game is horrifying!

Ignoring the pathetic jibe at Pac-Man, I must say blurb encouraging kids to go on a fucking killing spree was very responsible.

HA HA HA!

Yeah, chop those bitches up.

Running out of gas results in game over (and a kick in the ass).

Sprite's colour scheme raises eyebrows.

Is Leatherface black? No. Does he have a mohawk? No. 

But I know a certain somebody who matches description.

Clubber Lang - Rocky III (1982)

Anything's possible.

40 years later.

Following in the asymmetrical footsteps of Friday the 13th: The Game (2017) and Evil Dead: The Game (2022), survival horror was initially developed by Sumo Nottingham in 2023 and completed by Black Tower Studios in 2024.

After choosing to play as a family member or victim, each match is set on one of six maps that have a day and night variation (except the graveyard).

Match ends when all victims either escape or are killed. 

Family members must also feed Grandpa victims' blood.

Let's take a peek at dude dancing the sunlight.

A slight improvement over the Atari game wouldn't you say.

Resident Evil 4 (2005)

Dr. Salvador is Leatherface and Jason - Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)

Burlap sack may have been lifted from:

Phantom Killer - The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976)

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (2017)

Baker Residence vs Chainsaw House

Mia vs Leatherface

Our lass even cuts through a door.

"Old" Eveline vs Grandpa

D-Series subject vs Grandma 

Dinner is served

Chainsaw controllers

NubyTech released two different types for the Gamecube (left) and PS2 (right).

No two units were the same, as blood splatter is unique.  Unlike the Gamecube, PS2 equivalent boasted ripcord and buzzing sound.

Yellow and red reflect the colours of weapons that Dr. Salvador and the Bella Sisters wield. 

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)

Very briefly.

Former Texas ranger turned vigilante Lieutentant "Lefty" Enright (Dennis Hopper) walks into Cut-Rite Chain Saws and red and yellow power tools catch his eye. 

Hmmm.

Ethan and Jack vs Lefty and Leatherface

Chainsaw duel was probably inspired by Motel Hell (1980).

Vincent vs Bruce

For shiggles.

Jason vs. Leatherface - issue 1 (October 1995)

Footage in film

Summer School (1987)

Serial Mom (1994)

American Psycho (2000)

Freddy Got Fingered (2001)

The Boss (2016)

Apples (2020)

Guest appearances

Dead by Daylight (The Cannibal was introduced in 2017)

Mortal Kombat X (2015) - Kombat Pack 2 DLC

Terrordrome: Rise of the Boogeymen (2015)

Homages

Film

Scream (1996)

Randy Meeks calls Billy Loomis "Leatherface" at Stu Macher's party.

Pieces (1982)
You don't have to go to Texas for a chainsaw massacre! 

(Laughs).

Podge - Inbred (2011)

Leatherlace - Death House (2017)

Pleatherface - Stan Helsing (2009)

Leatherface - Transylvania Twist (1989)

Weirdest of all.

Rocky V (1990)
After learning he's been declared bankrupt, Rocky is wearing a Leatherface jumper.

Video games

Mad Butcher - Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (2008)

James Sunderland - Silent Hill 2 (2001)

Hillbilly - Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse (2005)

Samson - The House of the Dead (1996)

Miscellany

Bob's Burgers - The Hauntening (S6 E3) - October 2015

The Evil Within² (2014)
Chainsaw 3D is one of game's several fake posters.
As a coincidental quirk, Texas Chainsaw 3D (the 'second' sequel to 1974 original), hit cinemas a year before in 2013.   

²ntbcw 2017 film of same name. 

Illbleed (2001)
A billboard in Dreamcast exclusive displays fictional film Massacre in Nature, directed by Tomy Hopper no less, a play on Tobe Hooper. 

Marc Nispel's 2003 remake renamed Sally's character Erin (Jessica Biel), introduced Sheriff Hoyt (R. Lee Ermey) and kicked off a whole new continuity (largely existing in comics), but that's another story.