Summary

• Three Finger, the most popular cannibal killer in the Wrong Turn franchise, has a deep and twisted backstory revealed in later movies.
• The Odet family, including Maynard and Delilah, birthed a group of deformed children who became the cannibalistic villains in the series.
• Maynard, the original patriarch, played a role in sending victims to his family, showcasing a mix of regret and complicity in their crimes.

The seven movies in the Wrong Turn franchise center around a family of inbred cannibals, and while there have been different killers in each, Three Finger is the most popular — and well known — of the bunch. Alongside his various family , Three Finger has racked up an impressive body count and, despite appearing to be killed off briefly at the end of the first film, keeps coming back for more. Currently, Three Finger is the only cannibal to appear in all six movies (though he didn't appear in the 2021 reboot).

A rather in-depth history has been developed in the Wrong Turn canon that revolves around Three Finger and his murderous family. While they were only briefly explored in the first film, later installments sought to develop their twisted, dark history and get down to the roots of their existence. While the first is traditionally considered to be the best Wong Turn movie in the series, each one has its merits, and part of that is due to the colorful history of the cannibalistic villains who have allowed for staying power in the franchise.

Three Finger & Cannibal Killers History Explained

The Cannibal Family In The Wrong Turn Movies Have A Surprisingly Deep Backstory

Despite the Wrong Turn franchise not being known as a cerebral or lore-heavy series, the family of cannibal killers — The Odets — do have quite the detailed backstory by the end of the 6th movie (prior to the 2021 reboot). The Odet family began with Maynard and Delilah, neither of whom appeared to have any mutations like their children, but could still have been the product of inbreeding.

The old man at the gas station — later revealed to be Maynard — had taken up the role of sending people into the wrong part of the wilderness, so his family would be taken care of.

Maynard and Delilah had five children: Three Finger, Saw Tooth, One Eye, Ma, and Pa, who were all deformed after their parents were exposed to toxic chemicals from a nearby paper mill. While Delilah died off-screen, Maynard met his end in Wrong Turn 2: Dead End. More of the cannibals' backstory was brought to light in the sequels, though it was established in Wrong Turn that the old man at the gas station — later revealed to be Maynard — had taken up the role of sending people into the wrong part of the wilderness, so his family would be taken care of.

Maynard Odet seemed to have regrets about his family, perhaps because of what they'd become after turning to cannibalism. However, it could also be shame regarding the inbreeding and mutations surrounding his family, or the way he deals with the grief of his wife's death. Even so, he is complicit in their crimes, and while he does seem to be afraid of his sons, he still tries to protect them whenever and however he can.

A post-credit scene revealed that Three Finger did not perish alongside his family

Three Finger was the only surviving member of the first Wrong Turn movie, with his brothers — Saw Tooth and One Eye — being killed at the end of the film by Jessie Burlingame and Chris Flynn. A post-credit scene revealed that Three Finger did not perish alongside the other Wrong Turn cannibals, and the sequel set up the birth of a new mutant — baby Three Toe — who survived the film with his brother, Three Finger, even though his mother (Ma) did not.

The original three Wrong Turn cannibals, Three Finger, Saw Tooth, and One Eye, returned in the fourth and fifth movies, which served as prequels. However, after the events of Wrong Turn 2: Dead End, Three Finger and Three Toe were the only survivors, and baby Three Toes perished in Wrong Turn 3: Left for Dead.