* EnsembleDarkhorse:
** Benny the badass African-American, machine gun-toting survivalist is easily the most memorable character in the film, and has a significant fanbase. [[FocusGroupEnding This is why he inexplicably survives Leatherface shoving a chainsaw into his face.]] The fact he’s played by [[Film/DawnOfTheDead1978 Ken]] [[Film/TheDevilsRejects Foree]] helps too.
** Leatherface's CreepyChild ChildByRape and brothers Tex (a BitchInSheepsclothing GayCowboy) and Tinker (a GadgeteerGenius with a HookHand) may be better-liked in this film than Leatherface himself, and all give creepy but colorful performances that make them among the more popular members of the ever-changing Sawyer Family tree.
* HesJustHiding: Some fans think that [[spoiler:Tinker]] survives his wounds rather than bleeding out.
* SoOkayItsAverage: Between the more contested second film and the following film being considered a FranchiseKiller, this one usually tends to get passed over and criticized for not having much of an identity while being acknowledged as having some okay fights and characters.
* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: Sara has spent a week on the run from the Sawyer CannibalClan after they killed her sisters one-by-one and is LaughingMad at times, but still a decent ActionSurvivor who is able to escape from Leatherface multiple times and still tries to help other survivors. Fans would have liked seeing her form a PowerTrio with Michelle and Benny, get more CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass moments and [[spoiler:ultimately avenge her sisters and escape]], but she has only one scene with notable dialogue, her chase scenes are brief and unmemorable, and she doesn't [[spoiler:make it to the final act]] or even get to meet Michelle.