Spooky Season 2022: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) Review

After nearly 50 years, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a horror cult classic among the best and scariest in the horror genre. Although not as gory as many may remember, The foreboding sense of dread and terror, the heart-pounding score and eerie sound design among others all culminate to a very disturbing and chilling horror flick that totally deserves its cult status.

After hearing her grandfather’s grave may have been vandalized, Sally (Burns) and her paraplegic brother Franklin (Partain) set out with their friends to investigate. After visiting their family’s old farmhouse, they run into a group of murderous, cannibalistic outcasts living right next door. As the group starts getting killed one by one by a chainsaw wielding Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen), Sally must do everything she can to escape with her life.

First off, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre isn’t necessarily a scary film by today’s standards in terms of jump scares and violence which it surprisingly lacks. However, the film is no doubt still a masterclass in horror.

There is an undeniable amount of uncomfortable tension from the very first frame all the way until the last, making viewers anxious and scared for what was to come. Tobe Hooper does a brilliant job at making the film feel real with a sense of realism that enhances the horror. Not to mention the unhinged group of murderous cannibals that attack, stalk and kidnap the main characters.

But adding to the film’s already horrifying layers is the haunting score which is sure to get anyone’s heart racing. Similarly, the sound design is just as creepy. The blood-curdling rev of Leatherface’s chainsaw, the horrific sounds of screaming pigs but mainly the traumatizing screams and cries of victims all make for a brilliantly horrifying and disturbing experience. Meanwhile, the cinematography was as gorgeous as it was creepy, using many lingering wide and long shots mostly due to budgetary restraints at the time helped build a scarier and haunting atmosphere.

The film is surprisingly short and ever so sweet. It goes by like a flash, while also delivering many slow, tense and fear-inducing moments. The casting and performances were impeccable, with Partain as Franklin being the standout. But the phenomenally acted cast of deranged outcasts, also deserve a special shoutout for being completely unhinged and of course the iconic dinner scene is phenomenally directed and very disturbing.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre has an undeniable timeless feel perhaps due to its lower budget and simple story along with a small cast of characters. Some scenes do go on a little too long and whilst this would usually be a criticism against it, the longer drawn-out scenes make those disturbing scenes feel much much more uncomfortable.

In the end, Tobe Hooper’s classic is incredibly terrifying and utterly disturbing. Providing a very suspenseful and foreboding atmosphere, with some very eerie cinematography while its score is haunting and the sound design is equally just as spine tingling. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a horror film deserving of its cult status and after almost 50 years, is still among the best films in the genre.

*still courtesy of Everett Collection*

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Olly Dyche

Journalist, Writer, Film Critic and Professional Nerd. You will probably find Olly at the cinema chomping down on some popcorn and taking in the glorious visuals of the latest theatrical release.