Revisited: ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ A Staple of Horror Cinema

“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is a staple of horror films. Sitting down to watch in 2022 as a more polished analyst, I was able to better appreciate it for what it is, more so than what it isn’t.

Released in 1974, “Massacre” is the product of filmmaker Tobe Hooper. Its simplicity reminds us of an indie. Hooper’s directorial prowess makes it stand out as a somewhat artsy film. Shots linger on grisly images. The framing is intentional, and the scares genuine. Its haunting realism would have been shocking for viewers at the time.

I think we just picked up Dracula

Disregard the litany of nonsensical sequels and reboots, the original is where true terror resides. A van full of mostly annoying hippies makes the mistake of getting lost in rural Texas. They wander into an old farmhouse. Bad things ensue.

Tobe Hooper chose to film “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” in his home state of Texas. The authentic location adds to the isolation and strangeness the characters are in. Several of the more frightful moments occur in broad daylight, a rare occurrence for the genre.

Most of the characters are annoying at best. But a few work. Marilyn Burns plays Sally, the undeniable scream queen of the film. Sally has the pleasure of getting the most screen time and it’s a positive since she’s the best of the bunch. It’s an emotional performance, and Burns is excellent at conveying sheer terror like no one else I’ve witnessed. Her only line the entire second half of the movie is literally “Ahhhh.”

My family’s always been in meat

Edwin Neal is excellent as the sinister hitchhiker. Gunnar Hansen plays the iconic Leatherface. An industrial score accompanies each scene in an effective way. The news reports at the start indicate the events are real. Unlike other horror movies, we can actually believe it here.

At 84 minutes, it’s still somehow a bit too long. The opening act is painfully sloppy. The viewer knows from the title, and the news reports at the start, mayhem is going to occur. It’s a slow burn to say the least. Once the action starts, it’s chilling to say the least. With the visceral imagery and harrowing situation, its much more disturbing than scary.

“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” is a memorable film. On my second viewing, I was able to appreciate the film aspects and the legacy a bit more. I won’t pretend to love it. Nor would I say I want to watch it again and again. But it deserves to be lauded amongst the horror community.

“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is currently available to stream on Amazon.

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