Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990)

Director:

Jeff Burr

Writers (WGA):

Kim Henkel (characters) and
Tobe Hooper (characters) ...

Release Date:

12 January 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

There's Roadkill All Over Texas

Plot:

A California couple and a survivalist encounter the cannibal family.

Plot Keywords:

Gas Station | Survivalist | Shotgun | Texas | Leatherface

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Kate Hodge	...	Michelle
Ken Foree	...	Benny
Viggo Mortensen	...	Tex
R.A. Mihailoff	...	Leatherface 'Junior' Sawyer
William Butler	...	Ryan
Joe Unger	...	Tinker
Tom Everett	...	Alfredo
Miriam Byrd-Nethery	...	Mama Sawyer
Jennifer Banko	...	Leatherface's Daughter
David Cloud	...	Scott
Beth DePatie	...	Gina
Toni Hudson	...	Sara
Duane Whitaker	...	Kim
Michael Shamus Wiles	...	Checkpoint Officer
Ron Brooks	...	TV Newsman

Also Known As:

Leatherface (USA) (short title)
Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (USA) (video box title)
TCM 3 (USA) (short title)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3 (USA) (new title)

Runtime:

Australia:80 min | France:75 min | Sweden:73 min | USA:81 min (R-rated version) | USA:85 min (unrated version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1990) | USA:TV-14 (tv rating) | New Zealand:R18 | Australia:R | Canada:R | France:-12 | Iceland:(Banned) | Singapore:M18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (edited for re-rating) | USA:X (original rating) | UK:(Banned) (1990-2003)

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

Viggo Mortensen was not the studio's first choice top play Tex. He didn't do well in the audition, and New Line hired another actor who was later fired, and the role of Tex went to Mortensen.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: At the climax, the chainsaw falls into a small lake/body pit and slowly begins to sink. First of all, the chainsaw's weight would have caused it to sink almost immediately, not slowly. Secondly, somehow the chainsaw continues running despite the fact that no one is giving it gas and it is partially submerged in water.

Quotes:

Tex: Whaddaya think to our little lady?
Tinker: ...Uncertain. Looks like she might get all screamy on us Eddie.
Tex: [Slams meat cleaver on table] I wish you'd call me Tex. I told you.
Tinker: Oh I'm sorry boy. Goddamit, I'm sorry... how'd you like to do us the honor of plugging that whore up?

Movie Connections:

Edited into Dead Teenager Movie (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Bored

Better than you think

There are several reasons to dislike this movie. First, the level of studio interference was considerable. That explains the atrocious ending grafted on against the director's wishes. The studio was looking ahead to a sequel more than they were concentrating on making this picture work. Second, because of the huge success of the first film (among genre fans) anything which followed was going to draw a lit of criticism. Do the filmmakers simply mimic the original, or do they completely break the mold? Usually what you get is a mishmash of both theories and that's what you have here. That said, "Leatherface" is lot of fun if you like a balls -out gore fest with some humor and better production values than the budget warranted. Director Jeff Burr creates a deliciously-crazed atmosphere while driving the

story home. This is also a very fine looking movie and kudos go to the director of photography, whose name escapes me. The cast is excellent. Mortensen looks like he's having a lot more fun here than in the "Rings": movies and Kate Hodge is very under appreciated. There's a good role for genre veteran Ken Foree too and he delivers the goods. By the way, the chainsaw in this one is a real beaut. "Leatherface" is a very solid B-movie effort.