The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
"Families' in the meat business." -The Hitchhiker
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a great horror film. What can I say, Tobe Hooper created a classic. It's about five teens taking a leisure drive through Texas country. The gang includes Sally, her invalid brother Franklin, Jerry, Pam, and Kirk. As the gang passes an old slaughterhouse, they pick up a deformed hitchhiker who ultimately ends up slicing Franklin's hand with a razor, so the gang kicks him out and keeps on driving.
They stop by an old gas station/BBQ for gas, and then drive up the hillside to Sally & Franklin's grandfather's old house. Sally, Franklin, and Jerry hang around the house whil Pam and Kirk go in search of a swimming hole, but instead find an old farmhouse where a man in a flesh-made mask (Leatherface) kills Kirk and hangs Pam on a meathook.
Curious as to where Pam and Kirk are, Jerry goes searching for them and comes across the same farmhouse - and ultimately meets a similar fate. Then Sally and Franklin go off in search of their three friends, and unfortunately run into Leatherface in the woods, but this time Leatherface is armed with a chainsaw. After sawing up Franklin, Leatherface chases Sally through the backwoods of Texas, and when she thinks she found help it turns out not to be and she is taken back to the farmhouse where she meets the rest of the cannibal family.
Ok, from this point I won't say anything else, I don't want to spoil the ending for you. All I can say is if you haven't seen this, see it. The raw, gritty filmmaking adds a touch of realism to the film. It feels like this is actually happening. You could almost say, "Wow, are those kids actually getting killed?" This is the ultimate horror movie.
Starring: Marilyn Burns and Gunnar Hansen
Theatrical Release: October 1, 1974
Directed By: Tobe Hooper
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My rating (out of 5 stars):
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