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Originally Posted by Abishai100
1. Yes, well, as stated, the story of the fictional Sam using the chainsaw to hurt animals was only meant to invoke the consideration that we can re-imagine what the actual 'equipment/gear' in horror movies terrify us about (so don't read it too deeply)
2. As per Leatherface and Carrie not being clearly self-resentful, I can offer some more supportive claims; while they are both 'focused/relentless' in what they are doing and are either completely un-evaluative or evaluative in meaningful instances (e.g., Carrie empathizing with her mother's psychosis), they both represent the human mind being completely fragmented by ugliness. While Jason, Lizzie Borden (etc.) are also plagued by ugliness, Leatherface and Carrie seem especially plagued by 'freakish ugliness' (Leatherface is deformed spiritually, while Carrie is driven insane by cruelty). So self-loathing becomes very important in assessing the ostracism (at least) of both of them.
3. Finally, I'd like to point out how (very amusingly) Leatherface and Carrie are both antitheses of James Bond. It's an odd coincidental truth that while James Bond (a resourceful fictional British secret agent, intelligence officer, and spy) is an 'ethical mercenary,' Leatherface and Carrie are both 'pure survivors.' Feel free to argue!
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1. Sorry about that. We get it's a made-up story to re-imagine the setting of the chainsaw and consider the new impression.
I'm with ya, Abishai100. I'm a life long student of symbolism on the United States' collective subconscious. My radio show is based on it.
I don't really have anything to say about the chainsaw's effect on our subconscious beyond what you've said about TCSM's effect.
2. "they both represent the human mind being completely fragmented by ugliness." I'm not sure I agree with that. Let's talk about Carrie. I'll grant you, by her own admission, Carrie doesn't think she's pretty... but I'd like for you to point out anything beyond that. She's rejected, or picked-on, by many other students, but I don't know how you conclude that Carrie believes it's because she's ugly.
Many teens don't believe they're good looking, without believing they're ugly, but rather just plain or average. At mid-film, Carrie is convinced by a kind teacher that she is attractive, which she is.. and I mean in the film depiction she is attractive... it seems obvious she is attractive, and it's not really a big surprise to Carrie.
For anyone who experiences rejection and cruelty from many others, it does weigh on a person that there's something wrong with themselves that we can widely label "ugliness" beyond physical appearance... but I think they also recognize the inner ugliness of the people being cruel. Carrie can understand some of her behaviors have indirectly invited rejection, things she can change and mitigate, but that doesn't mean she thinks herself ugly, or that she self-resents or self-loathes.
We are of course talking about Carrie in the film specifically. Beyond your own speculation, I don't think you have specified how Carrie thought herself ugly in any way at all. Can you give some concrete examples in the film that indicate this?