The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

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This article is about the 1974 movie. For the 2003 remake, see The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003 film).

Template:Infobox Film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a low-budget horror film classic made in 1973 (released in 1974) by director Tobe Hooper. It concerns a family of cannibals in Texas, who abduct customers from their gas station. One of the main characters — Leatherface — is one of the most well known villains in horror cinema, notable for his mask of human skin, his blood-soaked butcher's apron and the chainsaw he wields.

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Overview

It is often considered the prototype of the slasher film sub-genre. Despite its grisly subject matter, the film — like John Carpenter's Halloween (1978) — does not rely so much on explicit gore to generate terror in the audience, as on pacing, suspense, and dramatic tension. Its sequels and the imitations it spawned have been much bloodier and more graphic.

The film was banned in the United Kingdom (1974-1999), but was subsequently issued on video and DVD, France (1974-1984), Germany, India, and Romania. And wasn't released in Australia until the early 1980s.

The official title of the original film writes 'Chain Saw' as two words (contrary to some posters and DVD covers), while the sequels and the remake use the compound 'Chainsaw'.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
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Plot

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The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

This is the bizarre and tragically gruesome account of what happened to five young friends one summer afternoon in rural Texas. After hearing reports of grave robbing, the group sets out to check on a family grave. Soon after, one-by-one they wander into the clutches of Leatherface and his bizarre cannibal family.

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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

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In 1973, a group of college kids traveling through the back roads of Texas encounter a chainsaw wielding manic and his homicidal family. After picking up a suicidal teen in the middle of town, the kids are lured in to the murderous clutches of Leatherface.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre stars Jessica Biel, Jonathan Tucker, Eric Balfour, Mike Vogel, and Erica Leerhsen, and "recounts" the "true story" of five teenage travelers stranded in a rural Texas town, fighting for thier lives against a chainsaw wielding madman and his bizarre family.

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Connection to actual events

Contrary to popular belief, the film does not depict factual events, but instead was (like the films Psycho and The Silence of the Lambs) loosely inspired by Ed Gein, who, while he did wear human skin, acted alone and did not use a chainsaw. Those who believe the film was based on actual events will try to back up their statements by referring to similar events in Texas, none of which had anything to do with the film. Although the film's opening would have one believe that the events are factual, it is merely a scare tactic, called the false document technique, to frighten the audience. (The opening voice-over is performed by John Larroquette.)

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Cultural references

  • The movie Motel Hell (1980) is a parody of this film and other 1970's slashers.
  • The movie Summer School featured two students who were fascinated with this film, and whose fascination was central to the story's climax.
  • White Zombie referenced the film's tagline "Who will survive and what will be left of them?" on their album Astro Creep: 2000.
  • Murder by Death has an album titled "Who will survive and what will be left of them?".
  • The same tagline was used in TV-spots to promote the 2003 film Freddy vs Jason.
  • The Ramones have a song referencing this film, "Chain Saw".
  • US death metal band Mortician have made several songs about the movie, including "Chainsaw Dismemberment" and "Hacked up for Barbecue". They also used samples from the movie in these songs.
  • In the film American Psycho, yuppie serial killer Patrick Bateman works out while the original 1974 film plays in the background.
  • In the film Freddy Got Fingered, the kids in the foster home are watching The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
  • Sex Pistols Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious both wore badges and t-shirts of the film. Sid wrote lyrics from "Helter Skelter" on his t-shirt, cross referencing the film with the Manson murders of 1970.
  • Experimental metal band Dog Fashion Disco included Leatherface with a jester hat on as a promotional logo/shirt for their band at one point. Gunnar Hansen (who played Leatherface in the original) loved the idea and has been seen wearing the shirt.
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Additional films

The film had three sequels:

A remake:

A prequel to the remake:

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Trivia (Taken from the original 1974 DVD commentary)

  • In the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre DVD release, the commentary (with Gunnar Hansen and director Tobe Hooper) mentioned that the actor who played Franklin actually annoyed Marylin Burns, and the two actors disliked each other during the filming.
  • The creators wanted to make Leatherface talk, but Gunnar Hansen declined, thinking it would make him seem too human. Leatherface was intended to be a subhuman character who only spoke in gibberish. To prepare for this role, Hansen did research at a mental institution.
  • The dead armadillos in the opening scene and the nest of Daddy long legs in the abandoned house were found by chance when searching for a location.
  • The original Texas Chain Saw Massacre was banned in Sweden and several other countries.

(See also Studio S)

  • On the DVD commentary Hooper states the skeletons in Leatherface's house were real human skeletons purchased from India. These bones were piled and burnt by a stagehand at the end of filming.
  • A Cue Card is showing in the background with the name "Edwin" sketched on it during the Grandpa feeding scene.
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External links

Template:Texas Chainsaw Massacrede:Blutgericht in Texas es:La Matanza de Texas fr:Massacre à la tronçonneuse (film, 1974) he:המנסרים מטקסס ja:悪魔のいけにえ pl:Teksańska masakra piłą mechaniczną simple:The Texas Chain Saw Massacre fi:Texasin moottorisahamurhaaja sv:Motorsågsmassakern

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