The slaughterhouse family is made up of psychopaths and sociopaths who terrorize their prey before they indulge in their cannibalistic way of life. Tobe Hooper’s film displays a family that has been rejected by American society and are considered outcasts in the American way of life.
Tony Williams identifies the similarities between Franklin and Leatherface who are both corpulent, insalubrious are heavily reliant upon their family members (pg. 192). Just as Sally looks after Franklin by coming to his aid after he gets cut and pushing his wheelchair to look for Jerry, Kirk and Pam, Hitchhiker looks after Leatherface by standing up to their abusive father (pg. 189). Franklin becomes a nuisance as he whines and bickers followed by him wrestling over the flashlight with Sally. In addition, he adds random commentary to the film as a result of his lack of a filter and has abnormal and strange tendencies similar to that of Hitchhiker. Franklin often feels omitted and so he forces others to accept him into their conversations when in reality he’s seen as the punch line for every joke.
(Hitchhiker’s sadistic habit of inflicting pain on himself.
Source: Vortex Films, 1974, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.)
Williams also brings to his readers attention that the slaughterhouse family are deadbeats with savagely cruel family habits who have been rendered useless due to new technological advances (pg.187). Hitchhiker displays his deranged and unearthly tendencies by mocking Sally, cutting himself and Franklin, setting fire inside the van and smearing blood on the side of the van. It’s also clear Leatherface has similar psychotic tendencies as he is seen murdering Jerry, Kirk, Pam and Franklin. He even tortures Pam as he hangs her from a metal hook and makes her watch as he decapitates Kirk’s head using a chainsaw. It is evident that Hitchhiker and Leatherface have these psychotic and disturbing tendencies as a result of being brought up by Drayton who resorts to hitting them and screaming when he demands there is work to be done.
(Sally being offered up as the main course.
Source: Vortex Films, 1974, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.)
The interior of the house represents the inner horror of each family member as their living room is filled with feathers, teeth and human and animal bones which are used as light fixtures, decorations and on furniture. Their kitchen table is decorated as a feast where Sally is offered as the main course. The families cannibalistic behavior is why they symbolize the demonic Indians of Puritans worst nightmares (pg. 187).
In conclusion, the slaughterhouse family represents every American’s nightmare, being a failure and rejected by their society. They are different which makes them outcasts and is why they reside in a secluded area, away from others who dismiss them as they are.
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