Hooper's gruesome masterpiece (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (DVD))

Member Name: baecpol

Product:	The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (DVD)
Date:	11/04/03 (1005 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Gripping from start to finish, Genuinely frightening

Disadvantages: Horrific, Disturbing, Not to be shown to children

Warning: This opinion describes the film in graphic and accurate detail. If you are easily disturbed, or havent seen The Texas Chainsaw Massacre yet and want the chance to see it for yourself, then I recommend that you don't read this.

First released in 1974, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre is centred upon the events that lead to the death of five teenagers one summer afternoon. Although the events in the film are not based entirely on real life occurences, it is undoubtedly inspired by the life of serial killer Ed Gein. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is shocking and horrific from start to finish, and is a full-frontal assault on the human mind.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was one of Tobe Hoopers first films, and was to be his most influential. Hoopers production budget for the film was as he describes himself 'pitiful', thus the majority of the cast were locals with little or no previous acting experience. In fact the filming of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre lasted a mere 32 days in the sweltering heat of Texan summer.

The film begins in a campervan occupied by the five teenagers, travelling towards a house in which one of them used to live. On the journey, the group decide to pick up a hitch-hiker, but little did they know it would be his brother that would brutally murder four of them. After he begins to cut himself with a pocket-knife and then turns the blade onto Franklin, Sallys invalid brother, he is abruptly thrown out of the van. When the van begins to run low on fuel, the group stop at a petrol station to refuel where they unknowingly meet another member of the 'cannibal family' played by Jim Siedow. Although his influence at this point is minimal, he plays a vital role in the film's chilling conclusion.

After reaching the house, Jerry and Pam go looking for a lake, whilst the others explore the house. After 'fortuotously' stumbling upon a generator, Jerry then Pam enter the house, securing their
gruesome fate when they are greeted by the most frightening of the family, leatherface. After time passes, Kirk begins to wonder what has happened to Jerry and Pam, and goes to search for them. After he also stumbles upon the house, he gets a chance to discover some of the house's horrifying secrets, before he is also confronted, and killed by leatherface.

Once it begins to get dark, Sally and her invalid brother Franklin go looking for the others with little other than a flashlight and each other for protection. After they accidentaly confront Leatherface in the woods surrounding the house, Franklin is murdered, before a genuinely frightening chase scene occurs. Sally is relentlessly pursued by leatherface through the woods, before she arrives at what she thinks is a normal house. As she starts to look more closely however, the reality dawns on her that she's just discovered a human abbatoir.

Sally has to jump out of a window to escape the ever closer Leatherface, although the chase resumes almost straight afterwards. After being chased through the woods once more, Sally reaches the petrol station, although little does she know that it's owner is a blood relative of the terrifying Leatherface! She is driven back to the family's house, when some of the family's dark and disturbing history comes to light. Before she gets the chance to escape for the second time, she is bound and gagged, and her blood is fed to the grandfather, played by John Dugan.

When she finally gets the chance to escape, again through a window, she manages to reach the main road, where she jumps on the back of a pick up truck and is driven to safety.

Although The Texas Chainsaw Massacre can only be described as horrific, disturbing, and genuinely frightening, it is a gripping storyline that leaves the watcher with a genuine sense of fear for some time afterwards. Personally ive seen the film a number of times and am a big fan, if you are
scared easily or have nightmares, this definately isnt for you. The chase scene in particular is extremely terrifying, and I must stress that under no circumstance should this film be shown to children!

Apart from the feature film itself, the special edition DVD includes a huge array of special features including a 72 minute documentary entitled 'The Shocking Truth', director and film crew interviews, a 16 page collectors booklet, deleted scenes and alternative footage, outakes, the original theatrical trailers, the original tv ads, sequel trailers, and stills, posters, and lobby cards. Personally I found that the special features on offer are a welcome addition to the package, and help to justify the recommended retail price of £17.99. Not only are the special features of excellent quality, they are genuinely interesting and relevant to the film, although I recommended that they are viewed after watching the feature film first, so as not to spoil the storyline.

Considering that this was one of Tobe Hooper's first feature films, and that it's budget was almost non-existant, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre represents a brilliant cinematic achievement, and has become a cult in it's own right. Although parts of the film depict extreme violence and gore, the producers were careful to limit the extent of these elements shown, so as to leave it to one's imagination. Personally I think that this is one of the element's that makes the film truly frightening, as you are left considering the exact fate which befell each of the youngsters.

Although the acting could be described as mediocre at best, this doesen't detract from what is an extremely atmospheric and enjoyable cinematic experience, although in hindsight you may not agree with the latter. If you havent already seen it, then I recommend that you do so, however if you're easily scared, I don't want to be the one who has to say I told you so!

"
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a ruthlessly efficient shocker; a timeless milestone of terror whose sheer raw power remains undiminished to this day" - Mark Kermode

"If ever a film should be banned this is it" - Daily Mail

"This is about the sickest carnival of slaughter ever seen...Why did the Greater London Council let this nightmare through?" - News of the World

"One of the most powerful and disturbing movies ive ever seen - And well worth seeing again" - Jonathan Ross

"25 years on, the greatest shock of this legendary movie is not how violent but how good it is" - Daily Telegraph

"Totally committed to scaring you witless" - Empire

Running time - 82 mins

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