“The film which you are about to see is an account of the tragedy which befell a group of five youths, in particular Sally Hardesty and her invalid brother, Franklin. It is all the more tragic in that they were young. But, had they lived very, very long lives, they could not have expected nor would they have wished to see as much of the mad and macabre as they were to see that day. For them an idyllic summer afternoon drive became a nightmare. The events of that day were to lead to the discovery of one of the most bizarre crimes in the annals of American history, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.”
That prologue opens one of the most genuinely scary horror films ever made. While digital restorations and tinkering with the original film elements has made the film clearer and crisper, I always felt the best way to enjoy the movie was a dark, grainy image that helped to amplify the gritty nature of what you were seeing. While the gore is surprisingly tame compared to what came in later horror films, the portrayal of the Sawyer family in the original film was raw and scary in a way that no follow up or remake has truly captured. Among that horrific family was The Hitchhiker. A seemingly dimwitted traveler, who sets the uneasy tone from the start of the film. Shifting from a lonely traveler to a deranged madman in just a few seconds, the portrayal by actor Edwin Neal is one of the scariest in the film. The Hitchhiker meets his demise at the hands of a semi-truck as he chases the last survivor, but makes his return as a corpse puppet known as Nubbins in the sequel.
Continuing their expanded Texas Chainsaw Massacre Mego style releases, NECA introduced a 2-pack that features The Hitchhiker as well as the corpse puppet Nubbins. Available online and in-stores now, the set includes a figure of the Hitchhiker, who comes with a switchblade, a razor, a pouch and a camera. The Nubbins puppet is made out of armature wire, with a sculpted upper torso and hands. Straps and wiring allow for the figure to be held by the previously released chop Top.
Toyark sponsor Entertainment Earth sent along the set for us to check out. After the jump, see my photos and thoughts on the new 2-pack.
Related Entertainment Earth links: Nubbins 8″ Scale Figure Set, Ultimate 7″ Scale Leatherface, TCM 3 Leatherface 8″ Figure
