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Which Leatherface Origin Story Did It Better?

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Leatherface

Origin stories have become a popular trend in the world of horror. With so many memorable villains and psychopaths, it’s no wonder why fans have become obsessed with finding out about what event flipped that character’s internal switch, to become such a grotesque and vile monster. Leatherface is no exception to this desire, and more than one attempt at showcasing his horrific upbringing has been made.

Upon first being introduced to Tobe Hooper’s 1974 masterpiece, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, viewers were captivated by the actions of the Sawyer family, and the franchise has spawned three sequels, two remakes, and two origin stories. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre:The Beginning, released in 2006, and Leatherface, released in 2017, display two completely different stories and styles for our introduction to the homicidal mad man and his deranged family.

Intended as a prequel to the 2003 remake starring Jessica Biel and R. Lee Ermey, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre:The Beginning opens with a slaughterhouse employee giving birth to a mutated infant, before dying on the work floor from labor complications. The child is then thrown aside like a piece of garbage, literally, before being adopted by a scavenger searching for food.

After developing an unknown skin disorder, Thomas is raised by the Hewitt family to work in a meat packing facility. Once the plant is condemned and ordered to close down however, he doesn’t understand that he must stop working. One ill advised insult too many from the head foreman, and Thomas surges into a fit of rage, bludgeoning the man to death with a tenderizing mallet, and claiming his first victim in a long spree of carnage.

‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning’ via IMDB

The thing that works so well for this origin story, besides R. Lee Ermey’s performance as the tormenting Sheriff Hoyt, is its sheer simplicity. A deformed mute, with a cannibalistic family, who has only ever known how to slaughter and package animals, finds a chainsaw and brutalizes anyone his family tells him to… doesn’t seem that far-fetched. The writers also pay homage to the original by putting an emphasis on the family, and not just Leatherface.

Fans of the 2003 remake appreciate the details throughout; like showing how Monty loses his legs and winds up in a wheelchair, Thomas’s first mask worn to cover his facial disfigurement, or how Uncle Charlie came to be the self proclaimed local law enforcement.

Overall, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning delivers a unique perspective into what drove Thomas Hewitt to become the murderous chainsaw slayer, while still giving fans the gore and thrills they’ve come to expect from the franchise. The same may not be said for the second, and more recent, origin story, Leatherface.

Directed by French duo Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury, the pair decided to take a different approach, showing Leatherface as both a young boy and a teenaged mental
patient. Aside from a few well-acted scenes from Lili Taylor as Verna, mother to the soon to be Leatherface, the horrific nature of the family is absent throughout the majority of the film. After escaping during a wild riot at the local mental hospital, four patients and a nurse are on the run from the vengeful sheriff Hal, played by Stephen Dorff.

While the idea of Leatherface being an escaped mental patient might sound good on paper, the end result lacks a certain grit and griminess to it that a slaughterhouse employee fills more substantially. Throughout a large portion of the film, the viewer is left guessing as to which character actually turns out to be the deadly killer. It’s only within the final few scenes that we find out who is elected to become the monster, and how he came to adorn the iconic mask (that was considerably underwhelming and resembled something of a leather bondage piece).

Leatherface

Sam Strike in ‘Leatherface’ via IMDB

The main issue many fans had, without giving too much away, is the dramatic change the character went through in such a short amount of time- from being very vocal and seemingly compassionate and intelligent, to suddenly becoming mute and losing all sense of a conscience in a matter of minutes. Add that to a few unrealistic scenes that seemed to serve no purpose other than to deliver what little gore and shock value there is (like three young adults all fitting inside of a dead carcass to hide from the police; or a random act of necrophilia during an unnecessary sex scene), and you have the makings of an origin story that falls short of its ambitious attempt to showcase a horror icon in a new and modern light.

Whether you want them or not, prequels and sequels will continue to re-imagine, reinvent, and often times downright embarrass some of our most beloved killers, psychos, and miscreants. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning and Leatherface are two examples of what can go well, and not so well within an origin story. At the end of the day, if neither of these prequels works for you, watch Tobe Hooper’s original and see what kind of origin your own mind creates for the chainsaw wielding maniac.

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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