Dinner with Leatherface – Anchor Bay Entertainment (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 2024
Director: Michael Kallio
Writer: Michael Kallio
Cast: Betsy Baker, Michelle Bauer, Bruce Campbell, Barbara Crampton, Gunnar Hansen, Danielle Harris, Kim Henkel, Kane Hodder, Linnea Quigley, Fred Olen Ray, Debbie Rochon, Tiffany Shepis

Release Date: February 25th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 106 Minutes 45 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $39.95

"Documentary 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." – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video:

Dinner with Leatherface comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 28.2 GB

Feature: 19.2 GB

Dinner with Leatherface uses a variety of sources: stills, archival footage, film clips, and newly shot interviews. 

Audio:

This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix in English. The audio sounds clear and balanced throughout. Included are removable English SDH and Spanish subtitles.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a showreel/trailer for a that never got made titled Southern Hospitality (2 minutes 46 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), outtakes from Dinner with Leatherface titled Tales of Gunner (19 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a convention chat with actress Danielle Harris that includes an interview she conducted with Gunnar Hansen (5 minutes 59 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an extended interview with filmmaker Jeff Burr (6 minutes 13 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an extended interview with filmmaker and historian MIchael Felsher (19 minutes 42 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with writer/director Michael Kallio and editor Josh Wagner.

Summary:

No matter what your knowledge of Gunnar Hansen is, Dinner with Leatherface is a well-rounded overview of the films he made and who he was in real life. Though a lot of time is spent on The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the Leatherface character, it is the other things that Gunnar Hansen films and his work as a writer that will surprise most who watch Dinner with Leatherface. Who Gunnar Hansen, beyond his on-screen personas, is the other topic that is explored in Dinner with Leatherface. The opening moments of Dinner with Leatherface have a voiceover that pays homage to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

When it comes to the films that Gunnar Hansen appeared in, Dinner with Leatherface covers the majority of them. And while watching Dinner with Leatherface, I was surprised with how many of his films I have actually seen. Besides archival footage of Gunnar Hansen, Dinner with Leatherface is filled with memories of those who worked with and knew him. The most fascinating topics are why he took a long break from acting and why he did not reprise the role of Leatherface in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. Ultimately, Dinner with Leatherface is an exceptional exploitation of the life and career of Gunnar Hansen.

Dinner with Leatherface gets an excellent release from Anchor Bay Entertainment, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer