You Like Head Cheese?

The film which you are about to see is an account of the tragedy which befell a group of five youths, in particular Sally Hardesty and her invalid brother, Franklin. It is all the more tragic in that they were young. But, had they lived very, very long lives, they could not have expected nor would they have wished to see as much of the mad and macabre as they were to see that day. For them an idyllic summer afternoon drive became a nightmare. The events of that day were to lead to the discovery of one of the most bizarre crimes in the annals of American history, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

THe above was the opening narration to one of the greatest horror movies ever commited to film, that being none other than Tobe Hoopers 1974 cult classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The movies plot is not the most mentally taxing or all that much of a challenge to follow, and frankly if you're not aware of this film then where the hell have you been?

At it's core Chainsaw is about the dysfunctional Sawyer family who give new meaning to the term inbred hillbilly. Front and centre of the crazy clan is the baby of the family Leatherface, so called because he wears a mask made of the faces of his victims that he has skinned. He may be the youngest but he is a hulking brute of a guy who loves nothing more than chasing people through the woods whilst weilding a chainsaw ina manner that would make Ashley J Williams proud.

The character of Leatherface has been portrayed by many actors over the years in a number of sequels and reboots (anyone remember Matthew McConaughey in an early role in TCM the Next Generation??) I know he wasn't Leatherface but it is one of those early turns I'm sure he'd rather forget) but nobody has done it as well as Gunnar Hansen did in the original.

It was Hansens first role and would define him for the entirity of his career as he would spend the next 40 years making appearences in little known horror filmswith titles such as Chainsaw Sally, Repligator and Swarm of the Snakehead. He certainly never obtained the same status or accalim as the likes of Riobert Englund or Kane Hodder, both of whom are most famously known as an iconic movie monster but whom have gone on to have a modicum of success outside of the character that they brought to life.

I'm sure if you had asked Gunnar if he minded being pigeon holed in this way he would have had to admit that yes he did as afterall being saddled with the roles he was certainly wouldn't have brought in the big bucks but he was still gracious and accepting of the fans that even to this day clamoured to get the chance to meet one of their horror heroes. I know from personal experience, when I met him at a convention in Birmingham here in the UK, that he was more than happy to talk to fans and share stories whilst he signed our posters and dvds and unlike some famous people I have met he was a true gentleman.

Sadly Gunnar Hansen passed away this weekend as he lost his battle with cancer, he was only 68 years old. My thoughts are with his closest friends and family at this time and I hope that wherever he has ended up that there are plenty of stupid teens for him to carve up with his chainsaw. Hell who knows, maybe Wes Craven is directing him in a movie as you read these words!