There are quite a few “classics” in the horror genre. And I have watched my fair bit of those, but sometimes, for whatever reason, they might disappoint you. Maybe the film isn’t what you were expecting, or it works, but it’s not as great as you wished it would be. Take The Amityville Horror (1979), the movie isn’t bad, but it doesn’t work nearly as well today. And that is the problem with these classics, mainly in the horror genre, they did something extraordinary back then, and now, many others have copied them. But because of that, that extraordinary something isn’t as impressive. That is why I was partially avoiding The Texas Chain Saw Massacre because that was one of those I have heard about for ages. And in my mind, there was no way this film would work today. I am so glad I was wrong.
Everything about this looks so minimalistic and raw that I immediately loved it. And even the beginning “setup” scenes with a hitchhiker that would usually bother me didn’t bother me that much. Because from the very start, the movie goes for that uneasy feeling, and it manages to not only create it but hold its entirety. And I would say that is rare even today, let alone back in 1974.
When the movie was going on, I was trying to understand why I was so into it. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre sucked me right in and didn’t let go of me. And I think it’s due to several key elements that can ultimately be almost a guide on how to make a great horror movie.
- Don’t be afraid to go/be weird with things. You don’t need supernatural, CGI or a big budget to make a horror film that works; what you need are colourful characters, because as we all know, people can be the scariest monsters because we are real.
- You notice many horror films from the 70s/80s usually have at least one big name before they were famous. That’s because casting unknown, starting actors is the way to go. Especially if you put them in some crazy situation, big names might sell more movie tickets but will always pull you out of the film. I didn’t recognize anybody in this movie, and that added to my enjoyment.
- Build the atmosphere and maintain it. And, if possible, escalate it beyond the maximum, embrace the chaos.
This film did all of these perfectly. I remember hearing a quote by somebody about this film, and it went like this: “The only thing scarier than the first hour of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is the last 30 minutes of that film.” I am probably butchering it, but I think you get the point. It’s been so long since I saw that quote, but it stuck with me, and now, while finally watching the film for the first time, I got what they meant.
The last 30 minutes of this film are straight-up chaos, in the most beautifully fucked up way. Once you have watched the movie, I strongly recommend you to go through the IMDb’s trivia section for this film, where the filmmakers and actors openly describe the conditions under which the last 30 minutes were made. And that translated to the screen in such a unique way that it stays with you. Without spoiling anything, I tend to hate films where people scream a lot. I get why they are screaming, but I can’t help myself; I find it annoying. And this film is shouty as fuck. However, it never once bothered me because I was so deep into it that the screaming blended into almost a background noise. Uncomfortable, distressing background noise.
Another thing I need to mention is how misjudged this film is. When you hear the title, you presume it will be a bloody slasher film. And it couldn’t be further from the truth. Sure, there is some blood, but when I watched the movie, I realised this is almost psychological horror. It makes you feel a certain way, lets you stay there, and the last 30 minutes escalate it to brand new heights. Most of the kills are either off the screen or obscured, meaning this film isn’t graphical (at least not with the killings), so even if you hate gore and blood, you might end up liking this film because there isn’t as much as the title would suggest.
Overall, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is one hell of a classic. As with true classics, you can see what other filmmakers have taken from this film, so it might not feel as original as it did back when it came out, but that didn’t bother me at all. It’s all about that atmosphere of uneasiness, hopelessness and pure, unfiltered chaos at the end of it all. Bonus points for this film’s ending, the movie knows when to end. I loved that unapologetic ending; I loved the now famous scene of Leatherface waving his chain saw around (once you see it in the context, you will understand why he does that), and I loved this film. This movie might be one of the best horror films of all time, a true horror classic.
That’s all for this one! Did you see it? What did you think about it? Let me know!
Until next time,
Luke
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