Category: Classics

In the summer of 1973, Tobe Hooper assembled a cast and crew of unknowns to helm his feature film debut. Hooper and co-writer Kim Henkel took inspiration from notorious graverobber Ed Gein and the changing sociopolitical climate of the 1970s. With a budget of less than $140,000, filming lasted seven 16-hour days a week with record-high temperatures. None could've expected nor would they've wished to see as much of the mad and macabre that was in store. The sweltering heat, lack of ventilation, and dangerous conditions made it a rough experience for all involved. Even up to the film's post-production, what initially seemed like an idyllic summer became a nightmare. A year after production wrapped, Bryanston Pictures bought the distribution rights, though at the cost of not paying the filmmakers. What followed was one of the most bizarre films in the annals of American cinema, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

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Rating

Synopsis

Due to grave robbery incidents, siblings Sally (Marilyn Burns) and Franklin (Paul A. Partain) travel to check their grandfather's grave. Accompanied by their friends Jerry (Allen Danziger), Kirk (William Vail), and Pam (Teri McMinn), they find the grave is undisturbed. Along their trip, the group encounters a hitchhiker (Edwin Neal), who cuts himself, photographs Franklin, and attacks before being ejected. They stop by a gas station and ask the owner (Jim Siedow) for directions, and he offers them a warning. After they visit an old house owned by Sally and Franklin's family, Kirk and Pam find a seemingly abandoned home. Little do they know that a masked man, Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen), lives there and doesn't take kindly to strangers. Soon, the others stumble across Leatherface's home and fall victim until only Sally remains. Will she survive the nightmare, or will she be another victim of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre?

 

Review

Even 50 years after its release, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre still endures as a horror classic. Even more impressive is that many consider it one of the most gruesome films despite the lack of onscreen blood. That goes to show the talent and artistry that went into making the film disturbing without revealing much. From Daniel Pearl's stunning cinematography to Bob Burns' masterful art direction, the film is beautiful in how raw it feels. The fact that Ed Gein inspired the design of the bone furniture and fleshy fixtures makes it more disturbing. Aside from some licensed music, the lack of a traditional score adds to the film's stunning realism. Instead, the filmmakers used a mixture of sounds, such as a roaring chainsaw and a whirring generator. These elements show you don't need a huge budget and lavish effects to craft a timeless masterpiece.

The fact that the actors were not established in the industry further adds to the feeling of realism. The five leads feel like a group of friends you're watching go on a road trip that goes south fast. The late Marilyn Burns is excellent as the unlikely survivor who endures countless horrors and emerges victorious. While heroines in horror movies existed, her Sally Hardesty character became the "final girl" template many others followed. Also noteworthy is the late Paul A. Partain as her step-brother Franklin, who's either the most annoying or sympathetic character. He constantly whines, complains, and argues, but you get the sense he's had a hard life and feels abandoned. It's also telling that he recognizes something's up and tries warning everyone, but no one believes him. Even if unintentional, Tobe Hooper crafted one of the most realistic depictions of a disabled person in cinema.

Edwin Neal is another standout as The Hitchhiker, whose demented manner and rambling speech set the tone early on. The late Jim Siedow also works as the seemingly innocuous gas station attendant who warns our leads. The fact that he's gone for most of the film until the climax makes his heel turn more shocking. Finally, there's the late great Gunnar Hansen as Leatherface, whose imposing presence and disturbing masks make him a horror icon. What makes him even scarier is that he's not some hulking beast but rather a child-minded lunk with a gut. You get the sense that he was molded and shaped into the monster he became rather than being born one. While modern audiences might find it slow or tedious, there's a reason why this film endures after 50 years. Overall, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is just as terrifying now as it was back then.

 

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