The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Also known as "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre"
Before Halloween.... Before Friday The 13th.... Before Scream.... There Was The Saw.
Starring: Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger, Paul A. Partain, William Vail, Terri McMinn, Edwin Neal, Jim Siedow, Gunnar Hansen, John Dugan, Robert Courtin, William Creamer, John Henrz Faulk, Jerrz Green, Ed Guinn, Joe Bill Hogan, Perrz Loreny, John Larroquette
Director: Tobe Hooper
Running Time: 83 minutes
US MPAA rating: N/AUK BBFC rating: 18
Horror, Thriller
On DVD Tobe Hooper's 1974 masterpiece 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' has acquired something of a mythical status. Stories have circulated for years about how its first audiences fainted or threw up in the aisles. It is believed by many (especially by those who have not actually seen it) to be one of the most unpleasantly graphic gorefests ever shown on screen. And it is the 'video nasty' par excellence, regularly accused of obscenity, immorality or worse , and often banned.
It seems high time to sort the facts from the myth.
First of all, although it has a plausible geographical setting (backwoods Texas) and although its narrator (an uncredited John Laroquette) declares it to be a true story, it is in fact no truer than Fargo (which uses similar tricks to authenticate itself). Claims that it is based on the real-life exploits of serial killer Ed Gein stretch our normal understanding of what 'based on' means.
Secondly, it is remarkably ungraphic. Far more terror is generated from the sound of a chainsaw, or the sound of screaming, than from the sight of flesh being chopped. And even when occasionally acts of violence are shown, they are astonishingly quick, and almost entirely blood free. Hooper is so skilled a director, with so firm a grip on atmosphere and tension, that you leave this film convinced that you have seen far more than he ever actually reveals.
Thirdly, 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' is a horror film which does not really scare its viewers, but rather, like 'Audition' and My Little Eye, traumatises them, bludgeoning them with scenes of psychological, as much as physical, torment. If you're looking for cheap frights, see a more conventional horror; but if you want to feel as though you've actually been battered by an agonising, visceral experience, this is the film for you.
Fourthly, if you can manage to catch your breath, you may be surprised to find yourself laughing. There is something absurdly recognisable about the cannibalistic family at the centre of this film, despite its inbred backwardness. The grandfather (John Dugan) whose words are uttered for him by everyone else. The son (played by the extraordinary Edwin Neal) who just wants to be an artist (albeit with corpses as his medium) while his brother (Gunnar Hansen) stays at home and does all the work (slaughtering AND cooking). It is shocking, but also darkly funny, to see in this crew of sickos something like a model family unit - respecting their elders, watching out for one another, and, most importantly, eating a shared meal. In this film, the family that slays together, stays together.
'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' is a low-budget triumph, still every bit as powerful in its impact today, and never outdone by any of its many slash-and-dash successors. This is cutting-edge horror, and while it may not be to everyone's tastes, it should find its way at some time onto every film-lover's plate.
DVD Extras: The extra material (on the Universal DVD) is pretty exhaustive, but somewhat repetitive, as there is a limit to how much can be said about the film.
Best of all is the full-length audio commentary from director and writer Tobe Hooper, cinematographer Daniel Pearl, and actor Gunnar Hansen (Leatherface). There are also 22 minutes of interview with Tobe Hopper and co-writer Kim Henkel, 28 minutes of deleted scenes, alternate footage and bloopers (all accompanied by brief explanatory notes, and of unsurprisingly shoddy quality), and a 73-minute documentary ('The Shocking Truth') which includes interviews with most of the major participants, and covers the film's inception, production, release and influence, and its after-life in the sequels. Here we learn that for all the carnivorous activities that it depicts, life on this film's set was no picnic for cast and crew, none of whom saw very much of the millions that it made in the end. The documentary also investigates the film's now absurd-seeming 25-year ban in the UK - although undeniably disturbing, and with a visceral impact that has rarely been equalled, 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' is no more graphic than, say, 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom', and it is ridiculous that so bloodless a film should ever have been banned.
In trying to protect the public from the supposedly malign influence of this film, it was the BBFC who - ironically enough - ended up doing all the cutting, slicing and slashing.
For real completists, there are original trailer and sequel trailers (including a trailer for 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation' which is mysteriously in rough-cut form), and galleries of stills and posters.
It's Got: An effective faux-documentary style, an eerie musique concrète soundtrack, moodily baroque sets, an unnervingly cruel streak, a harrowing final half-hour of psychological torture - as well as some good ol' fashioned southern hospitality and nice n' chewy home-cooked finger-lickin' barbecue.
It Needs: To be seen both on the big and small screen. On the big screen it has the impact of an hour-and-a-half long hammer-blow to the head, whereas the humour is better appreciated with the images and sound reduced in size.
Alternatives: 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2', 'Motel Hell', 'Deranged', 'Deathtrap', 'Ed Gein', Wrong Turn, House of 1000 Corpses, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
Summary: Downsized abbatoir workers, weird hitch-hikers, vandalised graveyards, abandoned cars, a macabre house, a hapless quintet of young lambs for the slaughter, and the gentle hum of a chainsaw. With these basic elements and next to no money, Tobe Hooper has spun an unapologetically mean-spirited tale of skewed family values and Southern discomfort, where all sanity is finished off with a skull-crushing hammer-blow. An absolute classic of horror, with many imitators but few rivals.
Review Date: 3rd November 2003
External Links
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre at the IMDB
Comments35 Comments |
| I think He's still alive maybe you should put more real photos of the real scene. |
| Comment by:- Brian | | 04 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| i thought that the texas chainsaw masscare was really scary i thought when pam was put on a hook that was scary 8 out of ten for scary |
| Comment by:- jordan | | 06 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| i dont really know wheather the texas chsnaiw masscare bacuse i have wtahc the 1974 four flim and the 2003 flim and the flims are both on different flim so i dont know wheather the flim re true |
| Comment by:- sexy micheal | | 06 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| i think that texas chainsaw massacre is week sauce i think anyways it aint very scary if he was living then email me and i will go in is house with some friends i will to so just email me |
| Comment by:- mervin garcia | | 11 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| That thought the movie was based on a true story,but now I'm not so sure. Well I'm not going to lie it freaked me out! |
| Comment by:- Bianca | yahoo.com | 16 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| I thought the movie was based on a true story,but now I'm not so sure. Well I'm not going to lie it freaked me out! |
| Comment by:- **~**B!NkY**~** | yahoo.com | 16 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| Havent you seen the 2003 movie at the end of the movie it is the end of the crime seen walk through the actual house where the sheriff is showing you everything and then suddenly cut chop the camera is down with the dead sherrif with his eyes still open starring at the camera then they rewind the tape back and show you the actual picture of him i would not go in to that house even if it was burnt down to the ground |
| Comment by:- undisclosed | | 22 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| oh yeah him is you know who leatherface |
| Comment by:- undisclosed | | 22 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| for once and for all i would please like to know if this movie is true , of fake,did it really happen in travid county , texas, if that place even exists,is the video of the cops recording in the house then comes leatherface at him is true or made up,i would like to know so i can get on with my life thanks |
| Comment by:- joel | | 24 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| i think that the leather face is true. you just have to sit down and watch. but there is a side of me that dont't believe it's true. we all need more information and more real pictures of the real thing. |
| Comment by:- britnie | ip:logged | 28 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| The Movie is fake, it's based on the killer Ed Geins. |
| Comment by:- G | | 30 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| A friend of managed to get a free screener copy of this film and I wasn't too impressed. What I got from the trailer is that this film was going to break new ground in suspense and shock-value. It didn't. It's no more suspenseful than "Psycho" (1960), and less shocking than Wes Craven's "The Last House on the Left". What worked for this film enough to get it sold was the original concept. It breaks the typical barriers of they cliché' serial killer genre. The director was obviously not afraid to show disturbing images, and knows when to cut away from them before it becomes cheaply gratuitous. However, this is a new young director and it shows. It shows clearly, the editing is paced far too slow and there are some signs of a lack of talent. Ever notice in some films that an actor who is usually great is suddenly a poor actor? That's when a film has a bad director, well, a bad director as far as directing actors or finalizing the editing ADR dialogue. This film manages to make Danny Glover appear below his best. The dialogue is at times trying too hard to be colourful and creative, it ends up un-natural. Now it has it's good points but I really did focus on the negative side of things as it's not amazing but worth watching and an above average film. |
| Comment by:- Chris | | 01 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| well it was a great horror movie after a long long time.we all r sick of watching urban legend,scream,i know wat u did last summer like movies.GOD give us abreak.this movie was the best.it scared me 2 death though.every scean was excellent.well i have heard its a true story but i'm not sure.plz give me some information taht would tell that was it based on a true story or not.thanx |
| Comment by:- bee | | 06 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| i loved the original TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE its by far one of the best movies made. i hate the new one that one just sucked a monkey, it cant match the original but they tryed some was okey like showing his face was cool but the bitch took his arm what the ****s up with that skrew happy endings the first was the best at least that bitch got ****ed up, oh well thats happy hollow-hood movies now for you. |
| Comment by:- s.u.m.m- mat | | 09 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| oh my god that flim was ****ing scary sorry for swearing i felt really sorry for sally and pam was put on a hook that would be hurting in the morning |
| Comment by:- boner in boxers | | 15 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| Well, I've heard that it's a true story, and then I heard it was based on Ed Gein, that crazy ****. Anyways, if it was based on Ed Gein, why was it a whole family? Ed Gein was one person, and as far as I've read and heard, Ed Gein never used a Chain saw. It's either one of two things. 1. A great/horrific story. Or 2. It's real and you choose to not want to believe something like that can really happen. Well it can, and it has, and maybe not in this movie, but it has happened, you don't even need to watch the news to know that. |
| Comment by:- Mickey | | 20 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| I think that the movie was good but the mystery is did it happen i am 10 years old and this is my comment |
| Comment by:- anthony vicenzi | | 23 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| i loved the movie it was very scary i want to know the real story behind it i am 12 |
| Comment by:- bianca | | 25 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| texas was sexy |
| Comment by:- nicholas waddell | gooogle | 27 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| I've been reading about Gunnar Hansen and he said that he didn't play Leatherface in the New TCM 2004. Well then who played Leatherface???? |
| Comment by:- Sammy | | 27 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| What year did the the real thing happen???? |
| Comment by:- kitty | google | 28 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| THE MOVIE WAS GOOD BUT I THINK THE END WAS BEST WHEN IT SHOUD THOUSE TO COPS GO IN TO THE BASEMENT SO CALLED BOILER ROOM . AND THEY GET SLOTERED. |
| Comment by:- BRIAN M. | | 29 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| I luv the movie it was soo awsome and I luv to get scared out of my shoes, I wanna be an actress and there acting is very good and expressing! |
| Comment by:- Charlene J. | | 06 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| I Think the Movie is true no matter what people say. they have proof of two investigating officers being attcked, plus all the evidence. this is a good movie! |
| Comment by:- Austin Wolfe | | 14 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| my screen name is groveSTgangsta22 |
| Comment by:- Austin W. | | 14 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| its four AIM or AOL |
| Comment by:- Austin Wolfeydawgerdangdoodlebobsquarepants | | 14 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| yea..the story is true but greatly exaggerated...it is based on Ed Gein the serial killer who never once used a chainsaw...but he did kill a few people. He was obsessed with the female body, and soon he was just obsessed with the human body overall. He killed random people to cut them apart and make decorations from their appendages or kill them to make a suit. But after trying to kill one woman..a sheriff caught on and he was caught in his home...cut up and mutilated bodies were found in the bak of his house. He was sent to a physco house and lived there 'til his death....(and yes he's dead) the whole family killer team is made up...most of his family died...which is what sent him off his rocker. o..and about those videos at the end...ed gein is already dead...so those videos are undoubtedly fake...srry guys... |
| Comment by:- Otsego747...AIM | | 15 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| I also did some research to find out if this story was true or not it turned out that Otsego is right there was on chainsaw killer but a crazy guy a long time ago that did some f****d up s**t but anyways even if he was alive today which he isnt he would be atleast 90...who cares but the movie is scary as hell i wont lie about that. |
| Comment by:- jvson | | 17 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| I dunno if it is true but i think it is but im going on websites and they are saying they aint true !!!! |
| Comment by:- Catrin | | 22 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| the movie was okay...scary but not true...if your going to make a movie about something that has occured in the past u should keep the facts straight and to the point...the movie was really fake and i was dissapointed when i found that out....but it was very scAry |
| Comment by:- LauR<--- | | 25 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| bad review |
| Comment by:- bkh2000 | www.freektobrittany.blogspot.c... | 02 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| hey i believe that this movie is 1 of the most terrifying movie of all times and if i could name all the scariest movies this movie will be the first ill name because this 1 has the best graphics and because all the movies that they make now arent that scary. everybody that i know agrees with me 2 because the movies now 1 have cheap graphics, nohing scary about it, and the actors act dumb. |
| Comment by:- Marco | | 05 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| I thought that The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is the scariest movie I have ever in my life. It was so cool the way they made it look so real but i could not watch it alone. |
| Comment by:- Alexis Duncan | | 06 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| i thought we should all know the real truth even i dont know the real stuff but the should teach it in schools because it is history im trying to get real information cause im interested in the movie. |
| Comment by:- Corey | | 19 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| the texas chainsaw masacre is bassed on the life of ed gein so watch his life story and compare it to this an you will not be thinkin twice if the story is true or fake |
| Comment by:- steve | | 23 December 2004 | ip: logged |
