Why 1974's Texas Chainsaw Massacre Cut The Original Leatherface Dance
Leatherface’s iconic chainsaw dance at the end of 1974’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has become intrinsic to the beloved horror franchise, but his original dance was cut from earlier in the movie. Directed by Tobe Hooper and filmed in grueling conditions, the low-budget horror has gone on to become a genre-defining classic. In this way, Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen) has also become synonymous with the horror genre, but the dance originally planned for his character would have undermined The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’s chilling ending.
Marketed as being based on a true story, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre sees Sally Hardesty (Marilyn Burns), her brother, Franklin (Paul A. Partain), and her friends travel through rural Texas to visit her family’s old homestead. The group soon falls victim to a family of cannibals, with Sally emerging as the sole survivor and birthing the horror genre trope of the Final Girl in contemporary culture. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre's eerie marketing efforts proved hugely successful, with Tobe Hooper's movie garnering infamy by being banned in several countries upon release due to its graphic, realistic violence.
Related: Texas Chainsaw Massacre: What Happened To Sally Hardesty
Following The Texas Chain Saw Massacre's success, Leatherface became quite literally the face of the franchise, appearing in every film since his 1974 debut. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre ends with the enduring image of Leatherface dancing frantically on a desolate road, swinging his chainsaw in the air in bitter defeat. However, this wasn’t the original Leatherface dance, as the legendary villain was cut from a scene at the gas station. According to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre's DVD commentary, the scene was removed to
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