Hodder in the New ‘Chain Saw’ Game | AUSRETROGAMER
By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.
I’ve never been a huge fan of “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” movie franchise. I found the old ones too scary to watch when I was little, and the dreadful remakes and reboots were forgettable. I quickly erased them from my memory banks right after I watched them. The one with Jessica Beal was dreadful.
When I read about the upcoming video game in the latest issue of “Fangoria Magazine,” I thought the article was fascinating. The new game, developed by Gun in association with Sumo Nottingham, recreates the 1974 film and expands on that world. There are several maps you can play, and the detail is supposed to be stellar.
One of the big things that sold me on the game, that has an August 18 release date, was a single line that I read in “Fangoria”: Kane Hodder as Leatherface. I’ve been a Kane Hodder fan since watching him play Jason Voorhees in “Friday the 13th VII: The New Blood.” He really made the role his own as Jason in “Friday the 13th VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan.” In that sequel, Hodder gave Jason a certain flavor with his distinguished movements and traits. Hodder’s depiction of Jason in “Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday” was the best thing about that awful movie.
Kane Hodder to Play Leatherface in Texas Chainsaw Massacre Game. image source: movieweb.com
I’m curious to see what Hodder does with Leatherface, another iconic horror character. I’m a fan of the slasher film “Hatchet,” the project that Hodder did after playing Jason. It’s over-the-top, but a lot of fun. Hodder wears more prosthetics in the “Hatchet” series, but he doesn’t go through the motions, he’s a real character as Victor Crowley.
I’m still not sure why Hodder didn’t get to play Jason in “Freddy vs. Jason.” Who at New Line Cinema thought that was a wise decision? Jason seemed more cartoonish in that 2003 film. Hodder had a distinctive way of playing the iconic character that the actor who replaced him couldn’t replicate. The way Hodder slightly tilted his head and walked with a calm pace as Jason was always terrifying. The Jason in “Freddy vs. Jason” seemed like he lumbered around throughout the movie.
I may wait a few weeks before I buy “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” game. It looks good, but not being a big “Chain Saw” enthusiast, I’ll probably wait to hear what other gamers think about it.
