The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a 1974 American independent horror film produced, co-composed, and directed by Tobe Hooper, who co-wrote it with Kim Henkel. The story follows a group of friends who encounter a dangerous family while traveling to visit an old house. The film was made for a very small budget and used actors from central Texas where it was filmed.

Because of its intense scenes, the film had trouble finding a distributor and received a rating that limited who could watch it. Despite this, it became very popular and made a lot of money. Over time, it is seen as one of the most important horror films ever made, helping to create many ideas used in later horror movies. In 2024, it was chosen for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being culturally important.

Plot

In 1973, five friends named Sally, Jerry, Pam, Kirk, and Franklin take a road trip in Texas. They stop at a cemetery and then pass by an old slaughterhouse. They pick up a hitchhiker who attacks Franklin and then runs away.

Later, Kirk and Pam go to an old house where they meet a scary man who wears a mask made of skin. The man hurts Kirk and Pam terribly. Jerry goes looking for them and is also hurt by the man. Sally and Franklin go to find their friends, but the man hurts Franklin and chases Sally. Sally runs away and hides at a gas station, but the person working there captures her and takes her back to the house.

The next morning, Sally tries to escape but is almost hurt again. She manages to run away and flags down a truck, escaping just in time. The scary man tries to catch her but fails. Sally drives away safely while the man watches angrily.

Cast

The movie features several talented actors. Marilyn Burns plays Sally Hardesty, while Allen Danziger portrays Jerry. Other key actors include Paul A. Partain as Franklin Hardesty, Edwin Neal as The Hitchhiker, Jim Siedow as Drayton Sawyer, and Gunnar Hansen as Leatherface. Additional performers such as John Larroquette also appear in the film.

Production

Development

The idea for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre started in the early 1970s when Tobe Hooper worked as an assistant film director at the University of Texas at Austin. Hooper used ideas about isolation, woods, and darkness for his story. He got some ideas from real events and stories, like a murderer named Ed Gein from Wisconsin. During planning, several titles were considered for the film, such as Saturn in Retrograde, Head Cheese, Stalking Leatherface, and Leatherface.

Hooper was also inspired by changes in culture and politics at the time. He wanted to make viewers believe the film was true, reflecting distrust in the government during events like the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War. The use of a chainsaw came to him while he was in a store, thinking about how to move quickly through a crowd.

Hooper and Kim Henkel wrote the screenplay together and formed a company called Vortex, Inc. They asked a friend, Bill Parsley, for money to make the film. Parsley invested $60,000 but owned half of the film. The cast and crew agreed to delayed pay in return for a share of the profits, not knowing they would get only half of what they thought.

Casting

Many actors in the film were not well-known at the time. They were mostly from Texas and had experience in commercials, television, and theater. Marilyn Burns played the main character, Sally. Gunnar Hansen played Leatherface and studied how people with intellectual disabilities moved and spoke to prepare for the role. John Larroquette provided the opening narration.

Filming

The film was mostly shot in an old farmhouse near Round Rock, Texas. Filming was tough because it was very hot, sometimes reaching 110°F (43 °C). The crew worked long hours, and conditions were difficult. They used old furniture made from animal bones and materials that looked like human skin. The house had animal blood on the walls.

Special effects were simple because of the low budget. Some blood shown in the film was real. The crew used real tools in some scenes, which made filming dangerous. Everyone involved got injured at some point.

Post-production

The film cost more than the original $60,000 budget. A group called Pie in the Sky helped by providing more money in exchange for part of the film’s profits. The film was distributed by Bryanston Distributing Company, but they did not pay the filmmakers fully. Later, New Line Cinema bought the rights and gave the filmmakers a better share of the profits.

Release

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre first showed in Austin, Texas, on October 11, 1974. The film told a story that many thought was true, which helped many people watch it. Over time, it made more than $30 million in the United States and Canada, even though it cost very little to make.

The film was originally given a strict rating, but after some parts were removed, it received a less strict rating. However, some places banned the film for many years. It was later allowed to be shown again in some countries, and it continues to be watched by people around the world.

Reception

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre got mixed reviews when it first came out. Some critics thought it was too scary and described it as very violent. Others praised the acting and how the movie was made, saying it felt real and scary.

Over time, many critics began to see the movie in a better light. They admired its ability to create fear without too much shocking content. The film is now often called one of the scariest movies ever made. Some famous directors and writers have praised it highly, calling it a masterpiece of horror. Today, the movie is seen as a classic in its genre, with many critics giving it high marks for its suspense and style.

Analysis

Christopher Sharrett says that The Texas Chain Saw Massacre shows a broken world where old American stories and ideas have lost their meaning. He thinks the movie asks big questions about what it means to be American, especially during the difficult time of the 1970s.

Some people talk about the movie showing how bad things can get when people are treated unfairly by big systems. The family in the movie acts in ways that copy parts of normal American life but in a twisted way.

The movie has strong and scary parts, especially for the women characters, and some people have talked a lot about these scenes. The film also makes viewers think about how we treat animals and food, with some seeing it as a message about why people should not eat meat.

Legacy

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is seen as one of the most important and talked-about horror films ever made. Many people think it helped shape the horror genre. Critics have praised it for being bold and different, and it has been listed among the best horror films many times.

The film’s main character, Leatherface, has become a well-known figure in horror. It inspired many other films and filmmakers. The movie has won several awards and has been featured in famous film lists around the world. Over the years, it has been released in many different formats, from old videotapes to modern Blu-rays. The story has also been told in many sequels, prequels, and even video games.