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Chop-Top
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre character
Bill Moseley as Chop-Top in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)
First appearanceThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)
Created byL. M. Kit Carson
Tobe Hooper
Portrayed byBill Moseley
In-universe information
Full nameRobert Paul Sawyer[1]
NicknameChop-Top
Bloody Bobby
Platehead
OccupationInfantry (formerly)
Butcher
RelativesBubba Sawyer / Leatherface (brother)
Drayton Sawyer (brother)
Nubbins Sawyer (twin brother; deceased)
NationalityAmerican
ClassificationMass murderer
Primary locationTexas
StatusDeceased

Robert Sawyer, better known as "Chop-Top" is a fictional character from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise; created by Tobe Hooper and L. M. Kit Carson, Chop-Top makes his first appearance (portrayed by Bill Moseley) in the film The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) as one of the film's villains and the main source of its black humor.[2][3]

A member of the cannibalistic Sawyer family,[4] Chop-Top, whose actual name is revealed to be Robert (shortened to "Bobby" or "Bloody Bobby") in the planned spin-off All-American Massacre, is a hippie-like antagonist and comedic relief character who makes frequent remarks related to his PTSD flashbacks and napalm from his time as a Vietnam veteran.

Chop-Top adorns himself in a variety of multi-colored and tattered clothing and claims that music is his life.[5][6]

Backstory

[edit]

Throughout The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, pieces of Chop-Top's past are revealed. The Hitchhiker, Chop-Top's twin brother, states in the first film that their grandfather (Grandpa Sawyer) formerly worked in a slaughterhouse where he was highly esteemed for his ability to manually execute cattle at quick speeds. In the sequel, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Drayton "The Cook" Sawyer explains that Grandpa Sawyer left the slaughterhouse when it transitioned from manual slaughter to the use of machines like captive bolt pistols. After having quit his job in protest, Grandpa Sawyer and his family fell into poverty. At some point prior to the first film, Grandma Sawyer, Great Grandma Sawyer, and the parents of Drayton, Chop-Top, Bubba (Leatherface), and The Hitchhiker (aka 'Nubbins'), died, leaving Drayton, the eldest son, to serve as head of the family. Having no other skills (save for Drayton's cooking), no money, and no food, the family was reduced to cannibalism. The Sawyer family began killing people for meat to be used in their chili and barbecue, which was sold to the general public at Drayton's Gas Station/Restaurant. However, it is suggested in the first film that Drayton did not kill anyone himself and left it to his three younger brothers while he did all the cooking.

During the events of the first film, Chop-Top was stationed as an infantry soldier in the Vietnam War, where he survived a major head wound from a machete-wielding enemy soldier. A metal plate was grafted onto his skull at a VA hospital, earning him the name Chop-Top (or Plate-Head, as he was originally referred to in the script).[7] At some point in time the plate became exposed. It is implied that this happened because of his habit of heating a wire coat hanger and picking pieces of skin from his scalp to eat, as he is seen doing throughout the film. Once he is released from the VA hospital, Chop-Top rejoins his family, who are on the run from the authorities for the murders they've committed, and purchases an abandoned amusement park located in Dallas called "Texas Battle Land" using money he received from the government after being discharged from the military for his injury. Chop-Top fashions his twin brother Nubbins' corpse into a crude, marionette-like form, which he carries around with him and treats as if it were alive.[5]

Appearances

[edit]

Films

[edit]

In The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Chop-Top first appears with his brother Bubba "Leatherface" Sawyer (Bill Johnson) attacking a pair of drunken motorists named Buzz and Rick on a bridge with their pick-up truck. Chop-Top drives the truck while Leatherface kills the two drivers, (The top of Buzz's head is cut off by Leatherface and Rick is killed in the resulting car crash), not realizing that the events were being recorded by the radio station Rick and Buzz had called into using a mobile phone prior to the attack. When DJ Vanita "Stretch" Brock (Caroline Williams) broadcasts the recording of the attack on the drivers, Chop-Top and Leatherface call Drayton to alert him of the broadcast. Drayton then instructs Chop-Top and Leatherface to break into the radio station and kill the DJ.

Stretch finds Chop-Top waiting on a couch in the station and enjoying some music and wearing a Sonny Bono wig to cover his plate. He talks excitedly with her about how she is his favorite DJ and that he and Leatherface "listen to her every night". After some back-and-forth, Leatherface emerges from a vault to attack Stretch, but mistakenly hits Chop-Top instead. Chop-Top emerges ultimately unharmed, besides a dent in his plate, and the plan to kill Stretch fails as Leatherface becomes infatuated with the DJ He tricks Chop-Top into believing he has killed her when the two leave the station, taking an injured co-worker of Stretch's (who was attacked by Chop-Top with a hammer and thought dead until later on in the film) with them.

When Chop-Top and his other brother Drayton (Jim Siedow) discover that Stretch is still alive after finding her in the family's home in an abandoned amusement park called the Texas Battle Land, the three brothers take her captive and decide to let the decrepit patriarch of the Sawyer family, Grandpa Sawyer (Ken Evert), kill her with help from Chop-Top. Vanita is saved when protagonist Lieutenant "Lefty" Enright Hardesty (uncle to Sally and Franklin from the first film) (Dennis Hopper) bursts on to the scene and engages in a chainsaw duel with Leatherface. The battle between the Sawyers and Lefty reaches a climax when a hand grenade, is set off by Drayton, explodes, killing Grandpa, Lefty, Leatherface and Drayton.

Narrowly escaping the grenade explosion, Chop-Top follows Stretch, who had also escaped, to the top of a Matterhorn attraction in the Texas Battle Land, which the Sawyers have turned into a shrine known as "Chainsaw Heaven".[2] Slashing Vanita several times with a straight razor, Chop-Top is knocked off of the Matterhorn when Vanita, stumbling upon the mummified corpse of Great-Grandma Sawyer, tears a chainsaw out of her hands and attacks Chop-Top with it, sending him plummeting into the ruins of Texas Battle Land.[5][8][9]

All American Massacre, a currently unreleased film, reveals that Chop-Top survived the fall into Texas Battle Land and was found three years later, arrested, found insane and placed in a mental institution where he had remained for the last 10 years; taking place 13 years after the second film, the film was going to have him being interviewed from his prison cell by a tabloid television journalist, narrated by Chop-Top, All American Massacre was to reveal, via flashbacks, the origin of the Sawyer family's cannibalism and what their real names are. The trailer for the film also indicates that he was in Vietnam for less than a full year as it says that "It's been 25 years since he last saw his twin brother alive" and the second film takes place 13 years after the first totaling 26 years.[10][11]

Literature

[edit]

Though Chop-Top does not appear in the 1991 Leatherface by Northstar Comics, a reference to him is made in the form of his catchphrase "Lick my plate!", which can be seen spray painted on the side of Alfredo Sawyer's Last Chance Gas Station.[12]

Chop-Top was completely disregarded in the 1995 Topps Comics Jason vs. Leatherface comic miniseries, which featured only the members of the Sawyer family from the 1974 film and original relatives (all dead); although elements of him appear to have amalgamated into the Hitchhiker character, who refers to Leatherface as Bubba and utilizes the phrase "Dog will hunt!" several times, much like Chop-Top.[13]

Concept and creation

[edit]

A character named Platehead appeared in the initial Kim Henkel treatment for the film. The character was later changed to Chop-Top by L. M. Kit Carson when he was hired on to write the feature film script.[14]

Bill Moseley was chosen for the role of Chop-Top after director Tobe Hooper saw a fan film and parody he created, The Texas Chain Saw Manicure, in which Moseley portrayed the Hitchhiker, a favorite character of his and his inspiration when acting as Chop-Top.[15] The documentary In Search of Darkness features an exclusive behind-the-scenes story on how Moseley landed the role of Chop-Top.[16]

Reception and legacy

[edit]

The critical reception of the film itself was mixed, due to the drastic tonal shift between this installment and the original. Despite the mixed critical reception, the character of Chop-Top and the portrayal by Moseley was welcomed by fans. The film has since become a cult favorite, leading to Chop-Top becoming one of the more recognizable horror antagonists from the 1980s.[17][18]

Chop-Top has become Moseley's most iconic performance as well as the actor's personal favorite. During the celebration of the film's 31st anniversary, Moseley paid tribute to Chop-Top for kickstarting his career stating, "And finally to Choptop, who's with me every day, and without whom I might just be pumping your gas (at least in Oregon)! Dog will hunt!"[19] When Moseley was asked to return to the Texas Chainsaw franchise, this time portraying Drayton Sawyer in Texas Chainsaw 3D originally portrayed by Jim Siedow, Moseley took the opportunity, but expressed disappointment that Chop-Top would not be returning. Moseley stated "I would love to have done that character [Chop-Top], I came close when I did Texas Chainsaw 3D a couple of years ago. I got the call from the producer of that movie saying we want you to play Drayton Sawyer. And I'm just thinking, 'Well that's like asking Moe to come back and play Curly. Or Curly to come back and play Moe, I guess is more accurate."[20] The character was also almost featured in the 2017 prequel film Leatherface. However the character was replaced with the character of Clarice portrayed by Jessica Madsen, who was intended to be an homage to Chop Top.[21][22][23] There are complicated rights issues related to the character which have prevented him from appearing in any further Texas Chainsaw Massacre related projects,[24] including the 2023 video game based on the series,[25] and Moseley has expressed interest in buying the rights himself.[26]

A statuette of Chop-Top has been released by Mezco Toyz; the figure is seven inches tall and has twelve points of articulation, and comes packaged with accessories such as alternate weapons and the puppet corpse. A figure of Chop-Top has also been released by NECA, featuring his iconic coat hanger, hammer, Sonny Bono wig, lighter and razor.[27] A mini-bust of Chop-Top has also been released.[28][29][30][31]

The Primus song "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver" features a sound-sample of Chop-Top, chuckling to himself then remarking: "Dog will hunt!" with the sound of a chainsaw in the background.[32][33]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Chop Top

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Chop Top, also known as Robert Sawyer, is a fictional character and secondary antagonist in the 1986 horror comedy film , the sequel to Tobe Hooper's 1974 classic . Portrayed by actor in his breakout role, Chop Top is a member of the cannibalistic Sawyer family, depicted as the deranged twin brother of Nubbins "The Hitchhiker" Sawyer from the original film. A veteran scarred by shrapnel wounds, he wears a visible metal plate in his forehead, which he compulsively scratches, contributing to his unhinged and memorable persona. In the film, directed by and written by , Chop Top aids his brothers—Leatherface and Drayton Sawyer—in terrorizing victims, blending grotesque violence with over-the-top black humor that defines the sequel's satirical tone. His introduction involves a chaotic attack on two motorists alongside , setting off a chain of events that draws radio DJ Stretch and ex-ranger Lieutenant "Lefty" Enright into the family's underground lair beneath an abandoned . Chop Top's erratic antics, including his gleeful taunting and chainsaw-wielding frenzy, heighten the film's gonzo energy, earning praise for Moseley's rubbery, exaggerated performance amid the gore. Beyond the film, Chop Top has appeared in expanded media within the franchise, including the 1991 Leatherface comic book and merchandise such as action figures, solidifying his status as an iconic horror villain. Rights issues have limited his inclusion in recent adaptations like the 2023 video game , though actor joined the game in December 2024 as the new character Bones. Moseley's portrayal launched his in horror, leading to roles in films by directors like .

Character overview

Physical description and traits

Chop Top is characterized by a prominent metal plate embedded in his , a prosthetic resulting from a severe sustained during the and surgically implanted at a VA hospital. This feature is often highlighted through his idiosyncratic habit of using a wire coat hanger to scratch the sensitive area beneath the plate, a mannerism that accentuates his physical vulnerability and ongoing discomfort. His attire reflects a hippie aesthetic inspired by the 1960s counterculture, featuring a colorful shirt, bell-bottom pants, a , and a that mirrors the marking of his deceased twin brother, Nubbins Sawyer (also known as ). This styling contributes to his disheveled, nomadic appearance, blending psychedelic elements with the grotesque undertones of the Sawyer family's cannibalistic lifestyle. Behaviorally, Chop Top exhibits hyperactivity and erratic mannerisms indicative of (PTSD) from his wartime experiences, including involuntary tics and disjointed movements. His speech is marked by rapid, rhyming chants and nonsensical phrases, such as "Dog will hunt!", delivered in a frenzied tone laced with morbid humor that provides amid the horror. He favors improvised weapons like his signature for close-quarters attacks and uses the coat hanger as a tool for personal relief.

Family relations

Chop Top, whose full name is Robert Sawyer, serves as a key member of the cannibalistic Sawyer family in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise. He is the twin brother of Nubbins Sawyer, also known as the Hitchhiker, with whom he shares a distinctive facial birthmark—Nubbins' on the right side and Chop Top's on the left—serving as a visual marker of their identical sibling bond. Chop Top is also the older brother to Leatherface (Bubba Sawyer), the youngest of the Sawyer siblings, and the younger brother to Drayton Sawyer, the eldest who acts as the family's cook and de facto patriarch. Chop Top's dynamic with is marked by a protective and enabling relationship, where he frequently assists his in their violent pursuits, fostering a shared childlike camaraderie that highlights their fraternal closeness amid the family's depravity. In contrast, his interactions with Drayton reflect a clear , with Chop Top in a subordinate position to the authoritative older brother, who bosses the siblings around while maintaining control over family operations as the cook. Following Nubbins' death in the events prior to , Chop Top returns from his service bearing his twin's mummified corpse as a cherished memento, a grim testament to his obsessive loyalty and inability to let go of their bond. This act underscores the intense familial ties that define the Sawyers, with Chop Top's eccentric presence providing and support—such as using scavenged radios to track victims—contrasting the more silent and domineering Drayton.

In-universe history

Early life and Vietnam War injury

Robert Sawyer, better known as Chop Top, was born into the impoverished Sawyer family in rural , where the clan lived in isolation amid a backdrop of and deprivation. As the twin brother of Nubbins Sawyer, Robert grew up in the same harsh environment that shaped the family's cannibalistic tendencies and survivalist ethos. In the late 1960s or early 1970s, amid escalating U.S. involvement in the , Robert enlisted in the and was deployed overseas, exposing him to the brutal realities of including ambushes and artillery fire. During his service, he suffered a severe shrapnel wound to the from enemy action, which required surgical intervention at a VA hospital upon his evacuation, resulting in the implantation of a metal plate to repair the damage. This injury caused lasting physical scarring and , compounded by psychological trauma that manifested as (PTSD) symptoms such as vivid hallucinations of battlefield horrors and uncontrollable twitching. To cope with the persistent itching beneath the metal plate, Chop Top adopted the disturbing habit of heating a wire with a and scraping at the surrounding skin, often consuming the flakes of dead flesh he dislodged—a ritual tied to his ongoing neurological distress. He returned to around 1973–1974, shortly after the withdrawal of U.S. forces from , rejoining his family just as the events of the previous year— including the death of his twin brother Nubbins—unfolded in his absence.

Events in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2

In The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, set in 1986 , Chop Top operates alongside his family from an extensive underground lair hidden beneath an abandoned , serving as their base for capturing and processing victims. Chop Top participates in initial attacks by ambushing motorists on rural roads with , employing his to terrorize and subdue targets during these nocturnal raids, which draw the attention of local authorities investigating a string of disappearances. His interactions escalate the family's involvement when he infiltrates a radio station late at night, tormenting the on-duty DJ Stretch through a mix of playful taunting and menacing threats, including playful yet violent gestures that highlight his erratic and sadistic personality while forcing her to broadcast his eerie messages. In the climactic sequence, Chop Top assists in the family's defensive rampage against pursuing , joining chases through the carnival grounds and brutal confrontations within to protect their territory and way of life. In the film's , after the lair's destruction, Chop Top and Stretch escape to a rocky outcrop where they battle; Stretch impales Chop Top through the stomach with a , causing him to fall to his . Plans for an unproduced , All American Massacre, would have depicted him surviving, institutionalized years later, and recounting past events. Thematically, Chop Top embodies a war-traumatized who fuses elements of —evident in his quirky demeanor and unconventional flair—with the Sawyer family's inherent depravity, adding a layer of irreverent, offbeat energy to the narrative's ultraviolence. During these events, he references his late brother Nubbins by carrying the reassembled remains of his corpse, fashioned into a crude , as a familial .

Development and production

Creation and inspiration

Chop Top, whose full name is Robert Sawyer, was co-created by director and screenwriter for the 1986 film , serving as an expansion of the cannibalistic Sawyer family originally introduced in Hooper's 1974 film . The character was designed as the twin brother of Nubbins Sawyer ( from the first film), who had been killed off-screen at the end of the original, allowing for a fresh yet connected addition to the family dynamic while replacing the deceased role. The character's backstory drew direct inspiration from the experiences of veterans, portraying Chop Top as a who sustained a severe during his , resulting in the implantation of a metal plate in his skull—a detail that symbolized the physical and psychological scars of the conflict. This element was rooted in real cases of (PTSD) among returning soldiers, reflecting the lingering cultural trauma of the as the war's aftermath continued to affect American society. In the script's evolution, early concepts considered having survive the truck collision from the first film's finale with a similar metal plate injury, but this was revised to establish Chop Top as a distinct twin to maintain continuity after the original character's death. Chop Top embodied a twisted hippie archetype, evoking the 1960s counterculture movement gone awry, with his long hair, headband, and erratic, psychedelic mannerisms contrasting the more rustic, rural depravity of the original family's members. This design choice introduced a layer of comic horror to the sequel, balancing the gore with dark humor through the character's unhinged antics and quotable lines. Thematically, Hooper and Carson used Chop Top to comment on American family dysfunction, portraying the Sawyer clan as a perverse reflection of warped domesticity exacerbated by the war's enduring impact on its survivors.

Casting Bill Moseley

Bill Moseley was discovered for the role of Chop Top through his self-produced short parody film The Texas Chainsaw Manicure (1984), in which he portrayed a manic hitchhiker wielding a in a beauty parlor setting, echoing the eccentric style of the original film's characters. Director viewed the film after it was delivered to him via a mutual contact at and was immediately impressed by Moseley's energetic and unhinged performance, leading to his casting without a traditional audition. At the time, Moseley had no major acting credits, having worked primarily in music and small independent projects, making this his breakthrough opportunity in feature films. Hooper selected him specifically for his innate ability to infuse the character with a volatile mix of dark humor, physical menace, and underlying vulnerability, qualities evident in the short film's brief but memorable cameo. The decision was a gamble on an unknown talent, but Hooper later credited Moseley's raw charisma as essential to bringing Chop Top's deranged hippie persona to life. To prepare for the role, underwent a head shave to fit the prosthetic metal plate simulating 's injury, a process overseen by artist and his team, which earned him a $5,000 bonus from the production company. During in , in spring 1986, Moseley focused on embodying the character's tics, such as compulsive head-scratching, and incorporated rhythmic rhymes into his for authenticity, drawing inspiration from mannerisms he observed. He also improvised several lines and mannerisms to heighten Chop Top's eccentricity, including playful yet sinister outbursts that aligned with the film's tone. On set, faced the challenges of filming in the intense heat while in heavy prosthetics and costume, which amplified the physical demands of the role. He developed strong bonds with co-stars, including Bill Johnson as , with whom he shared scenes involving chaotic family dynamics, and as Stretch, whose high-energy interactions helped shape the film's frenzied atmosphere. Moseley's ad-libs added spontaneous layers to Chop Top's unhinged persona and were retained in the final cut for their fitting absurdity. The portrayal of Chop Top propelled Moseley's career into the horror genre, establishing him as a go-to for psychopathic "hellbilly" roles and opening doors to further collaborations. It led to his return to the Sawyer family in official franchise entries, like Drayton Sawyer in (2013), and voice work as family member Bones in (2023) video game, while also inspiring repeated appearances as Chop Top in fan conventions and interactive projects.

Media appearances

Films

Chop Top's sole on-screen appearance in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre film franchise occurs in (1986), directed by , where he serves as the secondary antagonist alongside and Drayton Sawyer. Portrayed by , the character is depicted as a deranged with a metal plate in his , engaging in cannibalistic violence and providing dark through his erratic behavior and hallucinatory episodes. His prominent role drives key sequences, including the invasion of a radio station and confrontations with protagonist Stretch, establishing him as a memorable addition to the Sawyer family dynamic. Plans for expanding Chop Top's role in a follow-up film materialized in the late but ultimately fell through. He was slated to return in an unproduced sequel tentatively titled Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3, intended as a direct continuation featuring Chop Top alongside Drayton and , but the project was canceled in 1989 due to studio shifts at . A later independent effort, All American Massacre (developed 1998–2000), positioned Chop Top as the central figure in a spinoff-sequel hybrid that would have depicted his survival and recounted the Sawyer clan's origins, but it remained unreleased after partial production. In August 2025, an unedited of the film surfaced and sold at for $8,500, though it remains unreleased. Production challenges during influenced Chop Top's scenes, as the film's $4.7 million budget—modest for a major studio release—imposed constraints that limited reshoots and effects, resulting in a rawer, more improvised feel to his sequences. As of 2025, no additional live-action film adaptations featuring Chop Top have been produced. Despite an ambiguous ending in suggesting his demise, franchise continuity has retconned Chop Top as alive in the expanded cinematic universe, particularly through planned sequels that portray him escaping the explosion at the Sawyer compound and continuing his violent legacy. This survival aligns with the series' loose timeline, allowing for potential returns in unfulfilled projects while maintaining the family's enduring threat.

Other media

Chop Top appears in the 2004 novel Texas Chainsaw Massacre II: Skinfreak by Stephen Hand, published by Black Flame as part of the New Line Horror series, which expands on the film's events through additional internal monologues and Vietnam War flashbacks for the character. Chop Top was rumored as a potential DLC killer for the asymmetrical horror game The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (2023) by Gun Interactive but was officially excluded, with no role in the title as development ended in May 2025 without further content. Fan-created mods featuring the character exist for the game. Merchandise includes NECA's 8-inch clothed of Chop Top, originally released in 2008 and reissued in 2025 with updated packaging to commemorate the film's legacy. Parody trading cards depicting Chop Top as "Metal Plate Nate" appear in the "Revenge of Oh, the Horror-ible" series (2019) by , spoofing the character's head plate. Chop Top is referenced in fan films, such as the short (2019), and various fan-driven audio dramas, though he lacks major roles in official novel series or video games, with most extensions being tie-ins or community-created.

Reception and influence

Critical analysis

Upon its release in 1986, elicited mixed critical responses, with praise for its infusion of levity into the franchise's gore often tempered by complaints of tonal inconsistency. awarded the film one star out of four, dismissing it as a "" that devolved into cartoonish excess without recapturing the original's raw terror. Conversely, a reviewer in noted the film's sporadic humor—such as Chop Top's erratic antics and war-torn rants—amidst the bloodshed, though critiquing the uneven pacing and direction as sloppy. A 2001 Guardian retrospective reframed the movie as a "satirical classic," crediting its gonzo blend of and horror for subverting expectations, with Chop Top's frenzied presence exemplifying the film's bold tonal shift. Critics have analyzed Chop Top as a poignant symbol of trauma's enduring grip on American culture. His metal skull plate, a remnant of a , represents the "patched-up" national psyche—scarred yet functional in a superficially prosperous —while his hallucinatory references to and underscore the psychological wreckage of the conflict. Chop Top's aesthetic and self-mutilating tics further evoke a twisted for the era's , twisted into violent absurdity. Bill Moseley's performance as Chop Top has garnered widespread acclaim in retrospective analyses for its infectious manic energy, transforming a potentially one-note into a horror icon. Publications like JoBlo have hailed Moseley's portrayal as a highlight of the , capturing the character's jittery charisma through improvised riffs on war trauma and that inject vitality into the family's depravity. retrospectives from the 2000s onward similarly praise his wire-hanger scratching and gleeful taunts as emblematic of the film's cult appeal, blending revulsion with dark humor in a way that elevates the role beyond mere . Academic discourse in horror studies positions Chop Top within slasher genre subversions, where he elicits a complex interplay of sympathy and horror. Carol J. Clover's influential 1987 essay "Her Body, Himself: Gender in the Slasher Film" examines how characters like remain arrested in infantilized states, their violent outbursts stemming from repressed familial and sexual dynamics rather than pure malice, thus humanizing the monsters while critiquing patriarchal dysfunction. Later journal essays extend this to broader postmodern readings, fostering audience that challenges traditional slasher victim-perpetrator binaries. Post-2000 reboots and sequels have drawn evolving critiques that underscore Chop Top's absence as a lost chance to deepen the Sawyer family's interpersonal layers. Reviews of films like the 2003 remake note how sidelining eccentric relatives in favor of Leatherface's isolation diminishes the original sequels' satirical family portrait, reducing opportunities for the and trauma exploration that Moseley's character provided. This shift, evident in entries through the 2022 sequel, prioritizes streamlined terror over the ensemble dysfunction that made Chop Top a memorable foil to the clan's cannibalistic bonds.

Cultural legacy

Chop Top has cultivated a dedicated within the horror community, largely driven by actor Bill Moseley's ongoing engagements at fan conventions. Moseley, who portrayed the character, frequently appears at events such as ScareFest, Creature Feature Weekend, and , often reprising Chop Top through in-character photos and panels that draw enthusiastic crowds. These appearances, spanning the , underscore the character's enduring appeal among enthusiasts who celebrate his eccentric, Vietnam War-scarred persona. The character's popularity has fueled a robust merchandise market, with collectibles reflecting his iconic look and quotable lines. NECA released an 8-inch clothed of Chop Top in 2016 to mark the film's 30th , featuring poseable details and fabric , with reissues continuing through 2025 to meet demand. Additional items include the Handmade by Robots vinyl figure from 2022, designed as a knit , and high-quality latex masks from Trick or Treat Studios, popular for Halloween costumes. Apparel lines, such as t-shirts from Fright-Rags, and accessory sets like enamel pins further extend his presence in fan wardrobes and displays. In broader media, Chop Top's influence appears in parodic nods to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise, though direct references to the character remain niche. The film's over-the-top horror-comedy style, epitomized by Chop Top, has inspired slasher elements in indie films of the 2010s, such as erratic, plate-wearing antagonists echoing his metal skull plate. Moseley has actively advocated for Chop Top's return in 2020s interviews, including pitching an unproduced sequel treatment where he would reprise the role, keeping revival rumors alive amid franchise reboots. As of 2025, Chop Top remains underrepresented in new official Texas Chainsaw Massacre entries, with no or major appearances since the 2000s. However, in December 2024, voiced a new original Family character, Slasher, in DLC for the 2023 , maintaining his connection to the franchise. Fan-driven content, including mods for the 2023 , continues to expand his lore through community creations and demands for inclusion, highlighting persistent interest despite the absence of canonical updates.

References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092076/
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  7. https://www.fangoria.com/texas-chain-saw-massacre-game-bill-moseley-skeet-ulrich/
  8. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/bill_moseley
  9. https://propstore.com/product/texas-chainsaw-massacre-2-the-1986/lot-1684-chop-tops-bill-moseley-headplate/
  10. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092076/goofs/
  11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RrN7k_5fl4
  12. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092076/quotes/
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  16. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092076/plotsummary/
  17. https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3455914/bill-moseley-played-chop-top-chainsaw-2-sequel-may-never-see/
  18. https://screenrant.com/horror-villains-funnier-than-scary/
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  22. http://filmint.nu/tobe-hooper-and-the-american-twilight-christopher-sharrett/
  23. https://texaschainsawmassacre.fandom.com/wiki/Chop_Top
  24. https://hotcorn.com/en/movies/news/bill-moseley-interview-army-of-darkness-the-texas-chainsaw-massacre-2-rob-zombie/
  25. https://www.framerated.co.uk/texas-chainsaw-2-1986/
  26. https://www.joblo.com/bill-moseley-reminisces-on-chop-top-and-the-texas-chainsaw-massacre-2-206/
  27. https://indiemacuser.com/2015/06/20/horror-month-interview-with-bill-moseley-the-texas-chainsaw-massacre-2/
  28. https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/311050/horror-business-bill-moseley-interview/
  29. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092076/characters/nm0608405/
  30. https://screenrant.com/texas-chainsaw-massacre-2-behind-scenes-facts-sequel/
  31. https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/exclusives/3461807/exclusive-chop-top-was-almost-in-leatherface-but-inspired-a-new-character-instead/
  32. https://screenrant.com/texas-chainsaw-massacre-spinoff-never-released-chop-top/
  33. https://nerdbot.com/2025/08/25/unreleased-tcm-film-all-american-masscare-sells/
  34. https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/the-texas-chainsaw-massacre-2/
  35. https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/3420042/lets-try-figure-wacky-texas-chainsaw-massacre-timeline/
  36. https://books.google.com/books/about/Texas_Chainsaw_Massacre_II.html?id=iccekgEACAAJ
  37. https://bloody-disgusting.com/video-games/3868136/gun-interactive-ends-future-content-updates-for-the-texas-chain-saw-massacre-the-game/
  38. https://store.necaonline.com/products/the-texas-chainsaw-massacre-2-chop-top-8-inch-clothed-figure
  39. https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-texas-chainsaw-massacre-part-2-1986
  40. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/23/movies/the-screen-chainsaw-2-a-sequel.html
  41. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/sep/28/filmcensorship.artsfeatures
  42. http://krelllabs.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-saw-is-family.html
  43. https://www.fangoria.com/lets-get-weird-with-it-an-unseen-texas-chainsaw-massacre-from-chop-top-himself/
  44. https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3703433/sequels-remakes-and-reboots-diving-deep-into-the-many-texas-chainsaw-massacre-timelines/
  45. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_texas_chainsaw_massacre_2022
  46. https://scarefestweekend.com/bill-moseley/
  47. https://www.facebook.com/groups/742302636136506/posts/2584514671915284/
  48. https://www.facebook.com/OldManZuko/posts/after-30-years-horror-icon-bill-moseley-back-as-chop-top-for-mad-monster-party/1397661498590178/
  49. https://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/AUG168443
  50. https://www.instagram.com/p/DMQwdPeRs9m/?hl=en
  51. https://www.amazon.com/Chop-Handmade-Robots-Vinyl-Figure/dp/B0B81G527C
  52. https://trickortreatstudios.com/products/the-texas-chainsaw-massacre-2-chop-top-ii-mask
  53. https://www.fright-rags.com/collections/texas-chainsaw-massacre
  54. https://bloody-disgusting.com/video-games/3847739/bill-moseley-and-skeet-ulrich-joining-texas-chain-saw-massacre-game-trailer/
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