The 2022 reboot ofTexas Chainsaw Massacrewas released on Netflix and updated the story of a final girl battling Leatherface and his cannibalistic family. This time, sisters Melody (Sarah Yarkin) and Lila (Elsie Fisher) go to Harlow, Texas, a small town where they think they can make creative careers for themselves. While they look at an old building to try to create the process of gentrification, they come across the evil Leatherface and final girl Sally Hardesty (Olwen Fouéré).
WhileTexas Chainsaw Massacre(2022) isn’t anywhere as popular as the original movie from 1974, it does have compelling enough characters and is a fairly decent slasher story. The ending of the horror film brings up a lot of strong opinions as one major decision is made that fans didn’t agree with. What happens at the end ofTexas Chainsaw Massacreand what should have happened instead? And how does that compare to the conclusion of the 1974 movie?
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What Happens At The End Of Texas Chainsaw Massacre?
It’s possible to think thatTexas Chainsaw Massacreshould have been in theatersbecause that would have created a different, more intense viewing experience. While it’s fair to argue that the movie doesn’t compare to the original, the story of Melody and Lila is fairly charming because they are kind and they’re interesting enough to spend some time with. Since they are approaching this town from a place of wanting to be creative and start their lives, that’s fairly engaging and different from the premise of the original movie.
TheTexas Chainsaw Massacre(2022) ending is tough to like because Melody and Lila come so close to surviving and making it out of Harlow, Texas. After Sally dies, Melody uses the famous chainsaw that belongs to Leatherface to throw him into a pool, and Melody and Lila run into a truck.
Leatherface takes Melody from where she is sitting in the car and cuts her head right off. He then dances around while the car, which is self-driving, starts up, and Lila is driven away from the small town.
Why Are Fans Disappointed By The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Ending?
Fans have mixed feelings aboutTexas Chainsaw Massacreand that mainly has to do with the horror movie’s ending. After watching an entire movie centered around two sisters who care about each other and have their whole lives ahead of them, it’s devastating to watch Leatherface kill Melody and parade around holding her head.
What was so satisfying about watching the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre slasher franchise was seeing final girl Sally Hardesty (Marilyn Burns) going up against Leatherface. While there are slashers that have sad endings or even mysterious conclusions that leave many questions, the general formula follows a final girl who can win against the villain or killer.
It’s just not the same watching Melody lose against Leatherface, not when she is such an intelligent and powerful character. The ending messes with thefinal girl horror movie tropethat theTexas Chainsaw Massacreslasher franchise perfected. It’s hard to agree that this was the right call here.
Since Sally Hardesty dies, it’s a shame for another final girl character to be killed. It ruins the tone of the franchise, which is about empowered characters battling a villain who is scarier and more intense than their worst nightmares.
How Does The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Ending Compare To The Original?
The ending ofTexas Chainsaw Massacre(2022) is very different from the ending of the originalThe Texas Chain Saw Massacrefrom 1974. The original has ahorror movie ending that is satisfyingas Sally Hardesty is victorious against Leatherface, which is of course what fans had been hoping for. And since she’s such an early example of this kind of horror character, she is so unforgettable.
Sally wakes up after being passed out and while she knows that the cannibals, including Grandpa, are still trying to murder her, she escapes from the house. When a truck driver comes by, he takes a wrench and hurts Leatherface, and Sally escapes into another truck that happens to be driving on the road.
In a haunting and memorable final scene, Sally’s laughter can be heard as the truck leaves. In one of the most famous horror movie images ever, Leatherface holds his chainsaw up in the air as he’s incredibly upset and mad. The ending ofTexas Chainsaw Massacre(2022) is trying to echo this original image, as instead of holding his chainsaw, Leatherface dances with Melody’s head.
But while he is definitely amemorable and iconic slasher villain, this was the wrong call for this particular story. It would be so much better for Melody to live and escape, ready to forget Leatherface and the trauma that she and her sister have experienced.
