It’s been over 45 years since audiences first got a glimpse of Leatherface, a memorable villain from the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
The film, and leatherface, had an undeniable effect on the world of horror that extends to this day.
There are so many tattoos dedicated to the leather face in so many styles.
but why leather face tattoos?
So many years later, what is it about this beastly character that keeps us interested?
Since its release in October 1974, the film has inspired 7 subsequent franchises, including sequels and remakes.
However, the fandom doesn’t stop there, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre has also been reimagined in modern comics and video games.
Regardless of incarnation, leatherface appears to be a key component in the chainsaw slaughter machine.
And that’s probably why leather face tattoos aren’t going away any time soon.
So before you put on some scary new ink at your next horror convention, let’s take a moment to ask ourselves why Leatherface is such an iconic character within such a legendary franchise.
who is leather face?
One of the most intriguing things about leatherface is its mysterious quality.
watching the original chainsaw movie, you get insights into his backstory through the way people treat him, but there are a lot of unanswered questions.
leatherface gets its name from the mask it wears, which is made from human skin.
it’s like a modern frankenstein harvesting its own parts (or sometimes saving them for a tasty snack).
On the one hand, he’s a chainsaw-wielding maniacal killer.
He takes no prisoners and shows no mercy.
On the other hand, he appears to be some sort of slave to the family of deranged outcasts he lives with.
He has childlike mannerisms and appears to have a mental disability.
He communicates with his family through growls and screams, as he cannot form words properly.
Leatherface’s character becomes almost likeable when seen with the other assassins in the cast, who tend to treat him with indifference.
one wonders if leatherface wants this life, or if it’s just what’s been presented to him.
what was the inspiration for leatherface?
Horror lovers and true crime fans may be interested in Leatherface, which was based on one of history’s most notorious killers.
beware the faint of heart: there are gruesome details ahead.
ed gein was a real man born in 1906 in wisconsin.
He was fairly sheltered and grew up in a small country house with an overbearing mother, an alcoholic father, and an older brother.
He was a shy boy by nature, aggravated by the fact that his mother punished him whenever he tried to make friends.
gein had a fascination with the female body because his mother told him that all women were promiscuous agents of the devil and that he should avoid being tempted by them.
this shame-ridden fascination with women and women’s bodies worsened as family members died and gein was left alone with his mother, who eventually died as well.
Although his mother had been abusive, she was all he had.
He was consumed with grief.
In his estate, Gein began collecting body parts from graves to make clothing and furniture.
During his time, Gein also killed two women and used their body parts for these same purposes.
gein is said to have often chased after women whose bodies reminded him of his mother.
one of the many disturbing things police found in ed gein’s house was a pair of masks made from human faces, which is a natural parallel to the leather face.
Although, doesn’t it all sound pretty familiar?
a shy, stunted boy in an abusive situation, a fascination with bodies, it’s not hard to find the edge in the leathery face.
There’s something about these characters that makes people wonder if they can help them, which is ultimately more interesting than an evil, ruthless killer.
what does the leather face symbolize?
Most people don’t get a leatherface tattoo because of the character and what he does.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre means something to horror fans for several reasons:
- He led the way. the original 1974 film was so realistic to audiences at the time that they were disturbed on a whole new level. even critics today praise the film for its documentary filmmaking style. Most of our favorite horror movies wouldn’t be what they are today if it weren’t for director Tobe Hooper and co-producer/writer Kim Henkel.
- made a statement. Anyone who ever believed “nothing could happen here” about her small town was shocked by the film, which points out how quiet places can hide dark secrets.
- It was an underdog project. Although it was a low-budget film and was instantly banned in many countries upon release, it far exceeded its original budget and is an enduring classic to this day.
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- valak tattoo
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- wyvern tattoo
- snake tattoos
- dragon tattoos
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For these reasons and more, tattoo collectors and horror fans love to dedicate a piece of their skin to this strange, disturbing and innovative film.
common themes in leather face tattoos
There are so many ways to get a leather face tattoo.
some go for a more classic portrait style, while others like to have a little fun with the design.
Because leatherface has been reinvented so many times and in different mediums, the choice is yours.
Cartoon horror designs are not only flashy, but they’re generally a bit easier to use.
they can blend in and be a bit less impactful than the realistic pieces.
That said, if you’re ready to turn heads, get that detailed portrait!
just know you’ll need a lot of space for it, so you’re probably looking at a big budget.
leather face tattoo ideas
There will always be new entries in the book of great horror movie villains, but leatherface will be remembered as one of the guys who got there first.
Looking for some leather inspiration?
Check out our gallery for the best leather face tattoos on the web!
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