Alternative Character Interpretation: Was Erin a good-natured young woman who, despite making mistakes, had the best intentions at heart and is a genuinely likeable person or was she an idiot that had to have things her way and got everyone in the movie killed?
The original script had her pregnant, which gave her motivation, but is that justification?
After watching our main characters suffer and die for a very grueling 90 minutes, it’s extremely satisfying to watch Erin viciously run over Sheriff Hoyt multiple times with his own car.
Also Erin chopping off Leatherface’s arm with a cleaver.
Character Rerailment: After 2, 3 and Next Generation turned Leatherface into a borderline goofy killer, ala like Freddy Krueger became during the later sequels, this movie turns him back into the incredibly menacing monster he was in the original.
Pepper certainly has her fanbase for being the most sympathetic of the protagonists
As does Morgan, funnily enough. Mainly due to being seen by some as the Only Sane Man of the film, even if he is an asshole. He even goes out performing a Heroic Sacrifice to save Erin.
Andy as well, for being a fairly nice guy and incredibly loyal to his friends.
Jedidiah Hewitt, for being the Token Heroic Orc of his family, and that helps Erin escape Leatherface.
Plus, the horrific physical and mental torture he goes through such as having a bottle smashed in his face adds a lot of sympathies.
Love to Hate: Sheriff Hoyt is a Hate Sink and a grade A Jerkass, but R. Lee Ermey does such a good job playing him and is so genuinely frightening that it's hard not to enjoy him as a villain.
Nightmare Fuel: The opening and ending scene with the police and cameraman going into the basement of the Hewlett household only to then be attacked by Leatherface. The black and white aesthetic does not help.
Narm: Having Erin run around in a wet t-shirt while trying to flee from Leatherface makes the whole scene come off as the opening of the first Scary Movie rather than a suspenseful fight or flight situation. What a weird place to incorporate fanservice.
