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The saw is family.
Leatherface may be the face of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre family, a horror icon, and a lethal enforcer, but he’s a family man at heart. Leatherface is the brawn to far more demented family members, making them just as dangerous, if not more so by how unassuming they can be by comparison. The franchise’s various sequels, reboots, prequels, and beyond present one of the most convoluted and appropriately bizarre family trees.
Ahead of Netflix’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which will begin streaming this Friday, February 18, we look back at ten of Leatherface’s most memorable family members.
Nubbins “The Hitchhiker” Sawyer
The Hitchhiker is the first deranged member of the cannibalistic clan we meet in the original 1974 classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. His introduction makes for a startling toe-dip into the madness that only progresses. Played by Edwin Neal, The Hitchhiker gets picked up by the unwitting protagonists, only to get dropped off shortly after his unhinged behavior makes them nervous, then he pulls out a knife. He smears his blood on the side of the van as they pull away, marking them as a target when they stop for gas. Nubbins gets run over by the semi in the end, but his reassembled corpse makes a grand entrance in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, proving that no family member gets left behind or forgotten.
Grandpa Sawyer
Grandpa Sawyer, at first, seems nothing more than a corpse, immobile and lifeless in a wheelchair. He wakes with the scent of Sally’s blood at dinner, shocking viewers as he begins sucking on her finger in a frenzy. The 124-year-old doesn’t quite have the strength or energy to land a killing blow with a hammer, but his family always makes sure he’s part of the murderous mayhem. Grandpa once again joins the family during dinner in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, but it comes full circle in part three, where he’s seen as a decayed corpse.
Drayton Sawyer
Jim Siedow played the Sawyer family lead to chilling perfection in the 1974 original, putting Sally Hardesty at ease before beating her with a broom and dragging her into the most harrowing night of her life. The proprietor of the gas station and barbecue, Drayton is the most suited to civilization, making him more dangerous than the unassuming brains behind the family’s barbecue business. Drayton acts more like a father figure to much younger siblings Nubbins and Leatherface, and is also pretty abusive to boot.
Robert “Chop Top” Sawyer
Bill Moseley’s scene-stealing character gets introduced in Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. The sadistic Vietnam vet has a metal plate in his skull thanks to a war injury and can often be seen picking dead skin around the plate and eating it. The twin brother of Nubbins ultimately proves to be no match for Stretch (Caroline Williams), but his boisterous personality and weird character quirks make him a fan favorite.
Edward “Tex” Sawyer
Tex (Viggo Mortensen) initially appears in Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III as an ally. Tex intervenes and attacks Alfredo Sawyer (Tom Everett) for spying on Michelle (Kate Hodge) in the restroom. Michelle escapes, but Tex seems left for dead. Only when she decides to go back for him does she discover the truth; he’s part of the same sadistic clan that aims to kill her. Tex might be the most deceptive member of the Sawyer family.
Vilmer Slaughter
Vilmer Slaughter is the head of the family in Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation. Vilmer’s short temper means he lashes out, quickly inflicting pain and torture on everyone around him to get his way, victim and family members alike. Matthew McConaughey chews up scenery like no tomorrow as the gleefully volatile serial killer with a mechanical leg prone to malfunction.
Darla
Darla (Tonie Perensky) stands out because she’s in the family by choice. The married businesswoman is Vilmer’s mistress, and she uses her job to help Vilmer catch victims. Darla also provides the family with meals and willingly subjects herself to domestic abuse. Darla’s so smitten with Vilmer that she’s willing to go to any length to appease him, including participating in the torture.
Luda Mae Hewitt
Luda Mae (Marietta Marich) is the Hewitt family matriarch and runs the family butcher shop, where she sells human meat unbeknownst to most customers. Luda Mae is the secondary antagonist of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and one of the few fiercely protective of Leatherface. Most franchise films frame Leatherface as the family punching bag; Luda Mae wants to lash out at the world for the bullying Leatherface endured as a child.
Charlie Hewitt Jr./Sheriff Hoyt
In 2003’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, it’s not Leatherface that’s the main antagonist, but family head Charlie Hewitt Jr. (R. Lee Ermey). Charlie assumes the identity of Sheriff Hoyt after murdering him, using his identity to wield authority and abuse power. Charlie is the most cutthroat, vicious, and ruthless member of Leatherface’s family. Charlie’s also the family provider, using his Sheriff persona to bring victims for Luda Mae to sell as meat.
Heather Miller/Edith Rose Sawyer
“Do your thing, cuz.” Heather Miller (Alexandra Daddario) is the protagonist and final girl of Texas Chainsaw 3D. She also happens to be the long-lost cousin of Leatherface, as she survived the Sawyer massacre as a baby and was raised by adoptive parents, oblivious to her past. Never mind the strange timeline here. After inheriting the family mansion, Heather eventually discovers her lineage, where cousin Leatherface resides. One bloodbath later, Heather accepts her family tree and assumes guardianship of Leatherface.
