Overview: This is one of the best ever documentaries about Gunnar Hansen, the actor who portrayed Leatherface in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). Friends, colleagues, filmmakers, and fellow actors share personal stories and discuss the dichotomy between the maniacal chainsaw-wielding character he played on-screen and the very intelligent, creative, soft-spoken man he actually was in real life.

Blu-ray Verdict: Releasing the same year as the 50th anniversary of the original release of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), the title comes from a song by The 3-D Invisible’s, a local Detroit band Kallio has worked with several times in the past.

Kallio played Gunnar the song the first time he picked the legendary actor up from the airport, while in town doing pick-up shots for the film, Mosquito. Hansen fell in love with the song, mainly because of the witty lyrics.

In truth, the story goes that filmmaker, Michael Kallio, continuously pitched Gunnar Hansen about doing a documentary about him. Gunnar would tease Kallio saying, Who the f#@k wants to see a documentary about me? They would joke that if made, the title would be called Like a God! an in-joke between the two friends.

As we all know by now, audiences were absolutely terrified out of their skins all across movie theaters back in 1974 when The Texas Chainsaw Massacre first hit the screens some fifty years ago. If witnessing what would happen to a random group of teenagers when they accidentally pop into the house of a cannibal family wasn’t enough, it was the lead, and very much stand out character of Leatherface, played by Gunnar Hansen, that helped continue the legacy all these years later.

So what we get here in this BRILLIANT documentary are several well-chosen actors from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre original who are here to eloquently and interestingly describe their hot and blood-soaked days spent out in those fields alongside star Gunnar Hansen, including Allen Danziger, Daniel Pearl, Kim Henkel, and Edwin Neal.

We get stories galore about just who Gunnar is, from his upbringing as a kid in Iceland who ended up in Texas ... with a chainsaw! However, did you know that immediately after his breakthrough role, Gunnar walked away from showbiz and focused on writing for magazines and books. And so what brought him back to the world of horror after all the time away? Well, you will have to watch this documentary to find out, won’t you!

The full line-up of actors and filmmakers recounting their experiences with Gunnar Hansen includes: Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator), Danielle Harris (Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers), Bruce Campbell (The Evil Dead), R.A. Mihailoff (Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III), Kane Hodder (Jason in Friday the 13th: The New Blood), Dave Sheridan (Scary Movie), Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp), Michelle Bauer (Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama), Tiffany Shepis (Victor Crowley), Brian O’Halloran (Clerks), Debbie Rochon (Tromeo and Juliet), Fred Olen Ray (Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers), Linnea Quigley (The Return of the Living Dead), Betsy Baker (The Evil Dead), Joe R. Lansdale (Bubba Ho-Tep) and Jeff Burr (From A Whisper to a Scream).

The Special Features include commentary with writer/director Michael Kallio and editor Josh Wagner, an extended Interview with filmmaker and historian Michael Felsher, a convention chat with actress Danielle Harris, Southern Hospitality Trailer - 2022 Remastered, and Tales of Gunner Hansen.

Official Purchase Link