Although the credits state the film is a true story (this was a marketing decision), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) was actually a work of fiction, though some of the elements were inspired by real-life serial killer Ed Gein. Shocking in it's directness, the film's grainy appearance looks as though it was intended to increase the sense of reality, but was actually a result of director Tobe Hooper's modest $300,000 budget. In order to keep costs in check, Hooper recruited a cast of unknown actors from the local Texas area he had chosen for filming. They filmed long days, seven days a week, to optimize the use of rental equipment. It was a tough shoot for Hooper, but in the end it paid off. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is considered one of the most influential Horror films ever made, most particularly in the "Slasher" genre, where many of the film's elements can still be felt today.
A group of five friends traveling through Texas stop off at an old homestead owned by the family of two of them...
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| The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. 1974 |
Running low on gas, three of the kids go off to see if they can acquire some from a neighbor. They picked the wrong house, and encounter Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen)...
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| The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. 1974 |
When they fail to return, the remaining two grow concerned and go off to find them...
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| The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. 1974 |
Bad decision...
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| The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. 1974 |
Classic, unforgettable Horror ensues...
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| The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. 1974 |
