The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Review

Written by: Moviemaven   

Want to see one of the scariest flicks ever? How about some crazy almost gore and creepy furniture made of human bones? Like that so far? So, now let's throw in some backwoods scary as Hell family members (including a wrinkled, blood-sucking grandpa)and we got a movie!

Tobe Hooper's brilliantly made film goes straight for the heart of your fear. As Sally Hardesty and friends go on a trek to check her grandfather's grave, they decide to visit the old homestead. Of course some of them wander off and never come back. Where oh where could they be? Perhaps Sally should check the local barbecue place. Or not. Cause these guys apparently aren't interested in having repeat customers.

Of course, TCM may seem mild compared to some of the things we have today (including the remake) but Hooper has a way of manipulating us without us really having a say. It is easy to sit back and say "this isn't scary." You may even find some of the scenes comical. If that is the case, you are doing it ALLLLL wrong. This is how you do it: First, you must turn off all the lights (I know that's cliche'. But it's cliche' for a reason). Ready? Now turn up the volume and pay attention. You may be tempted to turn it down when Sally starts having her 3 thousand year screaming fit. DON'T. This is when Tobe grabs you by the balls and takes you on the freakiest ride of your life. He cleverly pushes his actors to their very limits which causes them to push yours.

If you allow yourself to be sucked in, you can feel Sally's desperation as she is teetering on the brink of insanity. She truly has no other recourse. By staying within her mind she would be forced to endure the tortures and torments of her cruel captors. No one could deal with that and NOT end up a little on the loopy side. Hell, you'd be a bubble off center, too, if someone nailed you to a chair and tried to kill you with a freakin' sledgehammer. So, let go all your prejudices that this movie is old or that it looks cheesy, or that she is getting on your nerves. Let go and feel it the way Hooper intended. THEN tell me it's not scary. If you don't think it is, you may as well give up on horror cause you may never find what you are looking for.

By far one of the greatest horror endeavors of all time, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre will continue to endure as long as faithful fans continue to enjoy. I expect it will be around loooong after I visit the slaughterhouse in the sky.