First Appearance: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 (1986)
Portrayed by: Bill Moseley
Kill Count: 5+ (on-screen, implied more)
Tier: Third Class
Who Is Chop Top?
Chop Top Sawyer, the deranged twin brother of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s Hitchhiker, is one of horror’s most chaotic, quotable, and disturbing characters. Introduced in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2, Chop Top brought a level of manic energy and gallows humor to the franchise that made him an instant cult icon.
Scarred from head trauma suffered during the Vietnam War — and with a gleaming metal plate to show for it — Chop Top spends much of his screen time scratching at his scalp with a heated coat hanger, then eating the flakes of burned flesh. He blends comedy and horror like few slashers ever have, delivering insane dialogue, unpredictable movements, and pure psychotic glee.
He’s a murderer, a sadist, a failed musician, and a war vet turned maniac. But more than that — Chop Top is a distorted mirror of American decay, filtered through Southern-fried gore and gasoline-slicked madness.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 (1986)
Directed by Tobe Hooper — returning for the sequel after over a decade — Part 2 is a drastic tonal shift from the raw realism of the original. It’s bloodier, funnier, and fully unhinged, thanks in large part to the introduction of Chop Top.
The film opens with two obnoxious college boys prank-calling a Texas radio station — only to be horrifically killed live on air by a chainsaw-wielding maniac during a car chase. That maniac is Leatherface, but Chop Top is driving the truck, giggling and egging him on.
The radio station’s DJ, Stretch, plays the recording on-air, drawing the attention of both the police and the Sawyers. Chop Top arrives at the station with a mission: destroy the tape, kill Stretch, and have some fun along the way. In this scene, Bill Moseley delivers a now-iconic performance, oscillating between comic insanity and real menace. He menaces Stretch with a straight razor while screaming things like:
“Lick my plate, you dog dick!”
He laughs. He screeches. He dances with violence. And most unnervingly — he never breaks character. All the while, he continues burning and scratching his scalp.
Later, we learn Chop Top has been living underground in an abandoned amusement park called Texas Battle Land, alongside Leatherface and their patriarch, Drayton “The Cook” Sawyer. This subterranean lair, decorated with bones, meat, and grotesque art, becomes the scene of the film’s extended third act.
Throughout the film:
- Chop Top tortures victims with a razor and hammer.
- He obsessively references Vietnam, hinting at deep PTSD.
- He cackles while trying to beat Stretch to death.
- His scenes with Leatherface show a twisted sibling dynamic — half clown act, half execution squad.
In the finale, when Stretch fights back and destroys the Sawyer family lair with a chainsaw, Chop Top becomes truly deranged — chasing her through the theme park, slicing himself in the process, and ranting about their dead mother. He’s dancing, bleeding, and laughing all at once when he finally falls into the abyss, screaming “NAM LAND!” as he seemingly meets his end — though his body is never recovered on screen.
Personality & Traits
- Unpredictable: Alternates between giddy humor and unhinged violence within seconds.
- Grotesque Habits: Picks at his metal plate with a hot hanger, eats flakes of skin.
- Loud and Theatrical: Constantly shouting, laughing, singing, or quoting his own slogans.
- War Trauma: His scars and behavior strongly suggest PTSD and delusional episodes.
- Twisted Loyalty: Devoted to his family, especially Leatherface — even enabling his romantic obsession with Stretch.
Legacy & Trivia
- Cult Icon: Chop Top is one of horror’s most requested returning characters, despite only appearing in one film.
- Bill Moseley’s Breakout Role: His performance launched a horror career, leading to roles in House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil’s Rejects, Repo!, and more.
- Fake Teeth & Improvisation: Many of Moseley’s lines were improvised — including the now-famous “Dog will hunt!”
- Spiritual Sequel: Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation and other sequels mention the family but never revisit Chop Top, frustrating fans.
Other Appearances
- Fan Films: Chop Top has appeared in horror fan films and tributes, including All American Massacre, a long-delayed unofficial sequel that never saw release.
- Conventions: Bill Moseley appears in character at horror conventions, and has voiced Chop Top in themed events and radio plays.
- Merchandise: NECA-style action figures, enamel pins, posters, and T-shirts celebrate the character’s cult legacy.
League Placement
Third Class
He’s the freak you laughed at… until he started carving.
From Vietnam to Texas Battle Land, Chop Top’s still scratching,
screaming, and licking the plate clean.