Leatherface 2017: The Horror Move That Ceased to Scare—Here’s Why!

Wed, 06 May 2026 17:25:58 +0000

Leatherface 2017: The Horror Move That Ceased to Scare—Here’s Why In 2017, horror fans were introduced to a new iteration of one of comedy-mash-up horror’s most infamous figures: Leatherface, the grotesquely masked killer from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). The release, Leatherface 2017: The Horror Move That Ceased to Scare—Here’s Why, attempted to blend modern horror tropes with gory flair but ultimately failed to captivate audiences or honor the legacy of the character. This post explores why this infamous entry fell flat—and what it reveals about the evolving landscape of horror cinema. ### The Birth of a Frantic Retelling Leatherface 2017 positioned itself as a gritty, stylized reboot of the character’s mythology—filmmaking choices that included a pseudo-documentary format, intense close-ups of Leatherface’s chilling visage, and a rushed, low-budget aesthetic meant to evoke visceral unease. The movie leaned heavily into body horror and slasher conventions, marketing itself to fans of the franchise’s brutal past. Yet, critical and audience reception was swift and decisive: the film was seen as predictable, overly gory without fresh terror, and failure to deliver meaningful surprises.