A Guide to Cannibalism... (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (DVD))

Member Name: jaffacakemonster

Product:	The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (DVD)
Date:	23/10/00 (118 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Master piece, good storyline, provoked modern day "slasher" films

Disadvantages: The sequels were not nearly as good as the original

When the Texas Chainsaw Massacre was released in 1974, there was huge uproar about the foundations of the film. This included taboo subjects like cannibalism, sadism, grave robbing etc... There are even reports of people who walked out of the cinemas during the movie, some even the previews!

But despite all this, there is really very little violence actually seen in the movie... compared to modern day movies like
"Nightmare On Elm Street" or "Candyman". Nevertheless, the TCM has been banned in the UK for 25 years, only being given an 18 Certificate in 1999, after the BBFC finally realised that the film was NOT as gruesome or violent as the name suggested.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is about a group of teenagers (in a hippie van) who go to visit a grave yard in Texas, following reports on the news of grave robbing (they have relatives buried there). But when they run out of gas and
discover an old farm house out in the middle of nowhere, that's when their problems really start. One by one, they become victim to "Leatherface" (Gunnar Hanson), a man who owns a chainsaw and is NOT afraid to use it... especially if he's hungry.

The film then goes on to reveal the whole "family" of cannibals, and a house with chairs made from bones and lamp shades
made from flesh. There's no doubt about it, this film is very gruesome indeed, but as mentioned earlier there is more implied that there is actually seen. And this is perhaps the best thing about the movie. If you're a horror movie fan then this is a must see, as Texas Chainsaw Massacre was solely responsible for modern day slasher movies... nothing like TCM existed before its time in 1974.

The film spawned 3 sequels, but these gradually get worse and worse...nothing can compare to the original (especially because the original Leatherface didn't star in the sequels). I've also been writing reviews/opinions on these
sequels, so check them out if you're interested. And don't forget, if this review motivates you to see this classic film, then leave a comment below.

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