The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Fans of today's gore-and-guts shockers may be surprised to learn that this notorious shocker is among the least bloody of modern horror films. But looks can be deceiving. It still packs quite a punch, and may well be the scariest film ever made. Director Tobe Hooper adopts a documentary-like style using static set-pieces, grainy film and a no-nonsense technique. This method was necessitated by budget, of course -- the film was made for next-to-nothing, using drama students from the University of Texas -- but for some odd reason, it works. It's not really a movie. As it unfolds, it comes across as a filmed nightmare, and it gets under the viewer's skin like no horror movie before or since. The scene in which Marilyn Burns is held captive at the cannibal family's dinner-table is almost surrealistic in its relentless depiction of insanity and horror. By the time they wheel down Grandpa (John Dugan), it's nearly unbearable. Suffice it to say that fans of relentless horror should make this film their first priority. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide

Inspired by the real-life case that spawned Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is another masterful (if less ambitious) bit of American horror that's managed to retain its shock value over the years -- no small feat considering the cultural swings of the late 20th century. It details the happenings of a day-in-the-life for a trio of deranged brothers, including the now-infamous "Leatherface" (Gunnar Hansen), a child-like oaf with a mask stitched of human skin and a talent for wielding power tools. When a vanful of Texas youths visit the old family farmhouse, they find the brothers have set up shop and, having been recently laid off from the local slaughterhouse, are eager to keep their job skills sharp. Tobe Hooper's direction is outstanding; he shows flair for the bizarre without ever slipping into pretentiousness or self-indulgence. (Please note the terrific scene involving the hitchhiker with the Polaroid camera and the bad temper, not to mention an impressive performance-art act.) Also, despite the film's reputation as a gore-fest, not a single scene contains gratuitous gore; in fact, its impact comes from the implied rather than the obvious, and what's left to the imagination is much more horrible. Hooper also demonstrates his ability to create suspense and sustain tension throughout the film. The plot itself is minimal, but it doesn't need to be more than it is. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a pure horror film and entirely dependent upon visual storytelling for its effect -- one that will stay with the viewer for days afterward. ~ Jeremy Beday, All Movie Guide