Day 17: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

17. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Dir: Tobe Hooper
Cast: Marilyn Burns, Gunnar Hansen, Edwin Neal, Allen Danziger, Paul A. Partain, Jim Siedow, Teri McMinn

No one ever seems to get a full appreciation of Tobe Hooper's Texas Chainsaw Massacre on their first viewing. Whether it's initially too strange, disturbing, or low budget, it's truly something else and possibly one of the most hard hitting psychological horror films ever made. From it's chilling opening narration (read by John Larroquette), to it's talented no-name cast, not to mention some outstanding documentary-style camerawork. TCM paved the way for the slasher genre and independent cinema.

Following the travels of five young adults in rural Texas, particularly one Sally Hardesty and her wheelchair-bound brother Franklin. The group is on their way to visiting Sally and Franklin's grandfather's grave, that is until they take an unfortunate detour. Winding up in the clutches of murderous cannibal family the group is slowly dwindled down, tortured and ridiculed by this twisted backwoods clan in one of the most controversial films of it's time.

Though Initially banned by various countries and strongly criticized, TCM has in recent years been declared a classic by critics and audiences alike. Filmed on a minimal budget of $120,000 by indie director Tobe Hooper and with a small cast of college students and teachers, this low budget fright fest become one of the highest grossing independent films at the time and world be renowned for it's classic lead villain and disturbing tone.



But what's funny about TCM is the film's actual content. I mean it's a film about a murderous backwoods' family with a central character wielding a chainsaw with the word "Massacre" in the title, yet there's very little gore or graphic content. Instead opting for a more psychological and ultimately more realistic horror film. This is perfected by the film's unsettling score and art direction and most notably the performances of the film's antagonists. Jim Siedow plays the father of the the clan who although may seem the most normal initially is actually the most cruel and violent personality. Edwin Neal plays the family's outcast hitchhiker and with his twisted outlook on life, adds the eccentric flare to the family and what is there to say about Leatherface? A towering, aggressive, mentally retarded hulk played by the intimidating Icelandic actor Gunnar Hansen... That's some scary stuff.

This is definitely within my top ten for films of this genre and worth checking out for people who want to get into the genre. No one's ever quite sure how they'll initially feel about it, but there's surprising amount of artistic merit here and has some surprisingly smart storytelling, perfect for the Halloween season.

Fright Fact: Most of the film's blood was real and many people in the cast were actually injured.

Horror Highlight: Here's a creepy segment, the meat hook scene,