Leatherface is a character from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre series. He first appeared in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) as the mentally disabled member of a family of deranged cannibals, featuring his face masks and chainsaw. Created by Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel, Leatherface was partially inspired by the crimes of Wisconsin murderer Ed Gein, in addition to confessions by serial killer Elmer Wayne Henley. Unique among horror villains, in which most antagonists of the genre are usually classified as sadistic or evil, Leatherface is depicted committing his brutal acts out of fear and as a means of following the orders dictated to him by his family, though not out of evil intention. Hansen described Leatherface as someone "completely under the control of his family", while also being afraid of them; going on to explain that, although Leatherface is the most powerful and violent member of his family, he is also the most fearful
In the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Leatherface was portrayed as a large, chainsaw-wielding murderer, characterized as having interchanging personalities depending on which mask he wore, in addition to occasional cross-dressing and themes of sexual ambiguity. The latter traits have never been fully explored or revisited in later entries in the franchise, except for The Next Generation.
Regardless of these changes, the characterization of Leatherface as an intellectually disabled, and mentally disturbed were retained in each entry of the franchise.
I have a shrine dedicated to Leatherface as he is my favorite of all the slashers, and the most unique as he, if not raised by his family, would just be a non-verbal autistic man! (or so I headcanon.) I consider Leatherface one of my highest fictional others, and love him very much.
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