In a Nutshell. Mini reviews of movies old and new. No fuss. No spoilers. And often no sleep.

Monday 24 October 2011

THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE [1974]

I've seen A LOT of shocking and disturbing films over the years but none has ever really left the lasting impression that Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre did.
It's grainy camera work and choppy edits would usually turn me off the film but in Chainsaw's case it enhances the horror of the film by 100%. One terrifying scene is topped by the next with a fascinating use of extreme violence using next to no blood.
The nightmarish psychedelic music, the bizarre sound effects mixed well into the foreground, the distorted radio broadcasts and the effective use of disturbing day shots makes Chainsaw a one of a kind.
It's only weakness is it's lack of character developments. The only character that really stands out is the one you just can't wait to bite the dust.
With that, I can easily say Chainsaw is one of my top 10 favorite horror films of all time.

4½ John Larroquette's out of 5

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Totally agree, groundbreaking, i remember watching it at 13, and i still feel creeped out thinking about it, 20 years later... all imatators fall short. 2003 remake-good, but thats all...

Anonymous said...

"Who will survive and what will be left of them."
Top of the poster. a Rob Zombie lyric, he also borrowed from the manson murder trial. he's badass

budarc said...

5 meat hooks out of 5 from me.

This movie worked a total of once and could never be duplicated again by hordes of rip-offs, simply because it had already been done.

And the remake sucked ass.