Directed by Tobe Hooper, and written by Kim Henkel and Hooper, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” was released on October 11, 1974, to widespread acclaim at the time for its visual elements and tense scenes. The film has now recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.
In August 1973, Sally Hardesty and four friends traveled to rural Texas to check on her grandfather’s gravesite, only to find it desecrated and vandalized. On their way back, they pick up a Hitchhiker off the side of the road who acts erratically. His intentions quickly become violent, which gets him thrown out of the van. Low on fuel, the group pulls into a gas station, only to find out from the proprietor that there isn’t any available.
They continue down the road, stopping at an abandoned house for some relaxation. Kirk and Pam run off together and come across a family house on a decrepit property, which gives them hope of finding some gasoline. However, due to their trespassing, Kirk and Pam draw the attention of one of the residents, Leatherface, a towering man who wears a mask made from human skin and wields his iconic chainsaw.
Sally and the remaining two are left wondering where they could’ve gone, resulting in a risky attempt to investigate the cannibal’s house. However, Leatherface and the other family members hunt down the teenagers with only one being captured and taken back into the house for dinner.
I find this as a standout film in the genre for multiple reasons. The set design for the cannibal family’s house is incredibly decorated with furniture made from bones and skin, along with being littered with cow skulls, which really lean into the twisted aspect of the character’s minds.
Even after watching, there were still numerous scenes that were stuck in my mind. First, the off-putting opening credits were accompanied by the loud and strobing camera flash, each time revealing something gruesome. Pam’s ultimate fate of hanging on the rusty meat hook and being stored in a freezer was pretty tragic. Along with the family dinner sequence where all the cannibals enjoyed their food, cackling at the final survivor’s struggle to escape.
Even the actors deserve their recognition for the portrayals of these characters; with Edwin Neal’s Hitchhiker acting quite unhinged at every possible moment, leaving you wondering what he’ll do next. Marilyn Burns fills the role of Sally Hardesty, the film’s overall protagonist, giving a realistic performance as she struggles to face the family of cannibals. And of course, this was also the notable introduction of Leatherface, played by the late Gunnar Hansen, and his iconic usage of the chainsaw throughout the movie for some great kills.
“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” will always be a good watch to put you right into the Halloween spirit. A solid 8/10.
