Horror Movie Review: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It’s a classic slasher horror that turned the character of Leatherface into an icon. Successful even back in 1974, its popularity has seen it become a franchise with sequels, remakes, prequels and reboots. It’s a classic, there’s no denying that but the question has to be asked… is it actually a good movie?

Directed by Tobe Hooper and written and co-produced by Hooper and Kim Henkel. It stars Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Edwin Neal, Jim Siedow and Gunnar Hansen. While it was marketed as being based on true events, it is not, aside from some story inspiration from the crimes of murderer Ed Gein.

In a small town in Texas, a gruesome sight is found in a graveyard and it is discovered that many remains are missing from their resting place. It causes outrage amongst the townspeople and travellers come from afar to find out if their dead family member’s graves have desecrated.

This is where Sally Hardesty (Burns) and her paraplegic brother Franklin (Partain) come in. They, along with their friends; Jerry (Allen Danziger), Kirk (William Vail) and Pam (Teri McMinn) have driven to find out if their grandfather’s grave has been affected.

Once it’s confirmed that everything is ok, they decide to visit the old Hardesty family homestead but pick up a hitchhiker along the way (Edwin Neal). The man is very unusual and after trying to extort money out of Franklin, cuts him with a straight razor and is kicked out of the van.

After that shocking event, the youngsters eventually arrive at the homestead. Kirk and Pam go off to look for a swimming hole but end up stumbling across an isolated house. Hoping to get some gas for their van, Kirk goes in and meets Leatherface. It’s one of horror’s best introductions and an early example of the realistic brutality that exists in this movie.

Once Kirk doesn’t come back, Pam heads into the house. She stumbles into a room that is filled with furniture made from human bones before making her acquaintance with Leatherface too. It goes badly for her. Shortly followed by Jerry, who came looking for the pair.

As night falls and the trio don’t return, Sally and Franklin are forced to go look for them. What’s that sound in the distance? It sounds like a chainsaw. Unfortunately for the brother and sister, Leatherface has come hunting and they’re about to find out that he is just part of a bigger problem.

For the most part, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre doesn’t tell a fascinating story. A group of young adults make the mistake of going where they shouldn’t and are assaulted violently by a chainsaw wielding killer and his psychotic family. However, what makes it so compelling is what isn’t told and what is left up to your imagination. How does someone like Leatherface come about? Why is the entire family insane? How have they been able to get away with it? Rather than leave you frustrated by these unanswered questions, Texas lets you make up your own mind. In between battering you with gritty and senseless acts of violence.

The slow build is worthwhile as it really does build tension. The early character work, the barren and isolated location and the exploration of the killer’s house makes for a compelling watch. The main cast are all likable and the acting is solid, however all anyone remembers is Hansen’s Leatherface. An overweight man wearing the dead skin of a person’s face on his own. He’s not a refined killer, he’s clumsy and uncoordinated but that just makes him feel more real.

Talking of realness… The Texas Chainsaw Massacre nails that aspect. The low-budget visuals make for a gritty watch and once Sally is in the hands of the family, it can be called unrelenting. Get used to hearing Marilyn Burns scream, she does it a lot here. It might end up annoying you but you can certainly understand why as her situation is utterly terrifying.

By time the credits roll, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre will have likely left you feeling cold inside. There’s nothing happy about this movie, nothing to cling on to or feel positive about. It’s a savage horror that still holds up these days. A classic for all the right reasons, there might be better movies in the franchise and better slasher horrors overall but The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was pushing boundaries in 1974.