Watch Leatherface

Leatherface is a 2017 horror film that serves as a prequel to the 1974 classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. It stars Stephen Dorff, Lili Taylor, and Sam Strike in the lead roles. Directed by Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury, the movie explores the origins of one of the most iconic horror film villains of all time, Leatherface. The story begins in 1955 with a young Jedidiah Sawyer living with his dysfunctional family in the rural town of Newt, Texas. Jedidiah is a shy and introverted boy, constantly subjected to the abuse and neglect of his psychotic family members. His mother Verna (Lili Taylor) is a religious zealot, his father is an alcoholic and his older brother Jackson (Sam Strike) is a sadistic bully. Jedidiah is surrounded by violence and dysfunction, and the only semblance of normalcy comes from his relationship with a young nurse named Lizzy (Vanessa Grass). After a series of events that lead to the death of one of their own, the Sawyer family is torn apart. Verna escapes with Jackson and leaves Jedidiah behind in a mental institution. Ten years later, Jedidiah (now played by Sam Coleman) has grown into a physically imposing young man. He finds himself in the company of a group of other patients, traumatized by their own personal demons. They are watched over by a team of doctors, led by Stephen Dorff’s character, who use unorthodox methods to treat their patients. When Verna learns that Jackson is being held in a nearby hospital, she orchestrates a daring escape plan, freeing him and two other inmates. The group sets out on a violent rampage across Texas, with the aim of reuniting with Jedidiah and forming a new family. Along the way, they encounter several obstacles and are pursued by a vengeful Lizzy who is on a mission to rescue Jedidiah and bring him back to her own dysfunctional family. Leatherface is a stylish and brutal film that successfully captures the spirit of the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre. The cinematography is excellent, using a color palette that is both gritty and vibrant. The film is full of violent and gruesome set pieces, but it never descends into gratuitous torture porn. The characters are well developed, and the performances by the lead actors are solid. Stephen Dorff, in particular, shines as the conflicted psychiatrist who finds himself caught up in the inevitable clash between the Sawyer family and the outside world. Lili Taylor is suitably chilling as the delusional matriarch of the family, while Sam Strike brings a visceral intensity to the role of Jackson. Sam Coleman is a revelation as the young Leatherface, imbuing the character with a sense of vulnerability that is both heartbreaking and terrifying. His transformation from a shy and awkward boy to a monster is handled expertly, and his performance manages to make the character sympathetic despite his violent actions. One of the film’s strengths is its refusal to adhere to genre conventions. The plot is complex and twisty, and the filmmakers play with the audience’s expectations in clever ways. While the film has its fair share of jump scares, it also has moments of genuine emotional depth. It manages to be a character-driven drama while still delivering plenty of bloody thrills. The film does suffer from some pacing issues in its final act, with the climax feeling rushed and unsatisfying. Additionally, some of the more outlandish plot twists may prove divisive among fans of the original film. However, these are minor quibbles in what is otherwise an excellent horror movie. In conclusion, Leatherface is a worthy addition to the Texas Chain Saw Massacre franchise. It’s a brutal and stylish film that manages to be both a prequel and a stand-alone horror movie. The performances are strong, the cinematography is excellent, and the plot is unpredictably twisted. Fans of the original film will find plenty to enjoy here, and newcomers to the franchise will be treated to a compelling and macabre tale of one of horror’s most iconic villains.