The film was marketed as being based on true events to attract a wider audience and to act as a subtle commentary on the era's political climate; although the character of Leatherface and minor story details were inspired by the crimes of murderer Ed Gein, its plot is largely fictional.
The character's name comes from his masks of human skin. Leatherface's signature weapon is the chainsaw, though he has also used other tools, such as cleavers and hammers, to kill his victims. The character was largely inspired by real-life murderer Ed Gein, who also wore masks made of human skin.
Leatherface, Sally Hardesty, and the gist of Texas Chainsaw Massacre are not real. The original movie and all of its sequels, including this newest one, are all fictional. But! The original film was inspired by a real killer named Ed Gein.
Gein served as the inspiration for myriad fictional serial killers, most notably Norman Bates (Psycho), Leatherface (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre), Buffalo Bill (The Silence of the Lambs) and the character Dr. Oliver Thredson in the TV series American Horror Story: Asylum.
Despite being heavily touted as "inspired by a true story," both Tobe Hooper's original 1974 film and the 2003 Marcus Nispel remake are only lightly based on the real-life murderer Ed Gein, who is suspected to have taken several victims between 1954 and 1957.
The True Story Behind "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre"
Is the real Leatherface still alive?
Is Ed Gein still alive? No, Gein is dead, and that's likely much better for the rest of us who hope to sleep at night. Gein died in July 1984 at the Mendota Mental Health Institute. Henley is still alive, but will be in prison until he is not.
Since its release to cinemas forty years ago, THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE has infamously touted itself as being “based on a true story.” Although Leatherface and the bloodthirsty Sawyer clan never actually existed, the central inspiration for the film is widely-known to be Wisconsin-based murderer Ed Gein.
And in the second film, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre II, the name of the Leatherface was revealed to be Bubba Sawyer. In The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, released in 2003, the movie adapted a different storyline and changed Leatherface's real name to Thomas Brown Hewitt.
— Loomis' description of a young Michael was inspired by John Carpenter's experience with a real-life mental patient. 'Michael Myers' was the real-life name of the head of the now dissolved British company Miracle Films.
You can relax! Jason Voorhees is not a real person, the fictional character was created by Victor Miller the writer responsible for 1980's Friday the 13th. While the character might have had some real-life inspiration there was no one individual responsible for the character or his distinct appearance in mannerisms.
Fans have made the point that Michael Myers has survived a number of brutal attacks, from a hail of bullets to multiple stabbings, that could hint he is an indestructible force. But Green assures that he is still human, one who is simply resilient and whose thirst for murder keeps him alive.
It appears that Michael Myers isn't immortal or supernatural. He's simply perceived that way by the townspeople due to his incredible resilience. While this might not fit in with the grounded take David Gordon Green hinted at with the 2018 film, it is an interesting way to view the character.
The fictitious Illinois town was instead named after Haddonfield, NJ, which is the birthplace of Halloween's producer and writer Debra Hill, and though Hill's hometown looks similar to the fictitious Haddonfield, the Halloween movies weren't even filmed in New Jersey.
Leatherface has never spoken a single word in any of his films. He has, however, grunted, screamed and riled in pain. He loves to moan at dinnertime, howling along with his victims… however, he never speaks a genuine word in any film.
Babi Sawyer is a supporting character in Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III. She is the daughter of Leatherface and a member of the Sawyer family.
“In the commentary Toby Hooper kind of addresses that. Leatherface is male, but takes up the role of family members that aren't there, meaning wife and mother. He even puts on his “pretty” face during the dinner scene, wearing the skin mask with makeup smeared all over it.”
Sally Hardesty is a fictional character in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise. She made her first appearance in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) as a young woman investigating her grandfather's grave after local grave robberies—crossing paths with Leatherface and his cannibalistic family in the process.
Keeping these facts in mind, the events of the 2022 Texas Chainsaw Massacre can be situated in the current day, although it is mentioned that roughly 50 years have passed since the events, situating it in 2023. This would make Leatherface 76 years old, meaning that he is a much older man who will set out to kill again.
Additional Info: Ed Gein, the character Leatherface was based upon, was not actually a murderer but only a grave robber. He died in 1984 in a mental institute, though he probably knew about the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie that he inspired. Tritone's love of horror and mystery began at a young age.
