The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

( 33 )

Overview

Tobe Hooper's influential cult classic continues the subgenre of horror films based on the life and "career" of Wisconsin serial killer Ed Gein, which began with Alfred Hitchcock's own influential cult classic Psycho. When Sally Hardesty Marilyn Burns hears that the Texas cemetery where her grandfather is buried has been vandalized, she gathers her wheelchair-bound brother Franklin Paul A. Partain and several other friends together to see if grandpa's remains are still in one piece. While in the area, Sally and ...
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Overview

Tobe Hooper's influential cult classic continues the subgenre of horror films based on the life and "career" of Wisconsin serial killer Ed Gein, which began with Alfred Hitchcock's own influential cult classic Psycho. When Sally Hardesty Marilyn Burns hears that the Texas cemetery where her grandfather is buried has been vandalized, she gathers her wheelchair-bound brother Franklin Paul A. Partain and several other friends together to see if grandpa's remains are still in one piece. While in the area, Sally and her friends decide to visit grandfather's old farmhouse. Unfortunately, a family of homicidal slaughterhouse workers who take their job home with them have taken over the house next door. Included amongst the brood is Leatherface Gunnar Hansen, a chainsaw-wielding human horror show who wears a face mask made out of human skin. Sally's friends are rapidly exterminated one-by-one by the next-door neighbors, leaving only Sally left to fight off Leatherface and his clan.
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide - Robert Firsching
Fans of today's gore-and-guts shockers may be surprised to learn that this notorious shocker is among the least bloody of modern horror films. But looks can be deceiving. It still packs quite a punch, and may well be the scariest film ever made. Director Tobe Hooper adopts a documentary-like style using static set-pieces, grainy film and a no-nonsense technique. This method was necessitated by budget, of course -- the film was made for next-to-nothing, using drama students from the University of Texas -- but for some odd reason, it works. It's not really a movie. As it unfolds, it comes across as a filmed nightmare, and it gets under the viewer's skin like no horror movie before or since. The scene in which Marilyn Burns is held captive at the cannibal family's dinner-table is almost surrealistic in its relentless depiction of insanity and horror. By the time they wheel down Grandpa (John Dugan), it's nearly unbearable. Suffice it to say that fans of relentless horror should make this film their first priority.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 10/13/1993
  • UPC: 030306629230
  • Original Release: 1974

    • Rating:

  • Source: MPI HOME VIDEO
  • Format: VHS

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Marilyn Burns Sally
Allen Danziger Jerry
Paul A. Partain Franklin
William Vail Kirk
Teri McMinn Pam
Gunnar Hansen Leatherface
William Creamer Bearded Man
John Dugan Grandfather
John Henry Faulk Storyteller
John Larroquette Voice Only
Jerry Lorenz Truck Dtiver
Edwin Neal Hitchhiker
Jim Siedow Old Man
Technical Credits
Tobe Hooper Director, Score Composer, Camera Operator, Original Story, Producer, Screenwriter
Wayne Bell Score Composer
Ronald M. Bozman Production Manager
Robert A. Burns Art Director
Larry Carroll Editor
Kim Henkel Original Story, Producer, Screenwriter
Buzz Knudson Sound/Sound Designer
Daniel Pearl Cinematographer
Sallye Richardson Asst. Director, Editor
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 33 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(21)

4 Star

(8)

3 Star

(3)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(1)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 33 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    blood-tastic

    Amazing horror classic, interesting since its based on Ed Gein. also interesting enough to know the the chainsaw was by accident. the director was in a hardware store and the line was ridiculous and packed and he wondering if he took the chainsaw and turned it on all the people would run. i thought that was great pointless info :&quot great movie!!!! remakes eh not so much, cant beat the orig!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Its FREAKALICIOUS!

    Okay, im 13 right now, and i saw TCM when i was 10. At first, it wasnt't that sacry. I saw it again, it scared the crap out of me! But still, AWESOME MOVIE!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    The Definitive Textbook of Outstanding Horror

    This maybe the most terrifying motion picture I have ever seen, and after 32 years, it still remains one of the greatest horror films of all-time. Marilyn Burns is absolutely amazing as Sally, and she is totally convincing as the terrified sole-survivor. Gunnar Hansen is the definitive "Leatherface", and his presence is truly shocking. Fear doesn't get much better than this. If I were to ever meet Tobe Hooper, I would absolutely thank him for giving birth to this cinematic masterpiece.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    The Best EVER!!

    "The Horror Movie To End Them All" This is the greatest horror movie i've ever seen!! A MUST SEE

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Slice and dice!

    The 1974 movie The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, I consider to be one of the best horror movies of all time. Since I saw this film I think it is one of the reason why I don't like the remake. The only thing this movie is missing is gore!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    SCARY!

    this movie is very scary than other scary movies.i had to call my 2 best friends to come over and watch it with me!they did a very good job on this movie!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

    This movie is the weirdest and alright movie of the horror movies. Leatherface is awesome with his big and scary chainsaw as the mask he seems to wear to cover his face. The remake was okay but should of done better.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    AWSOME!

    THIS MOVIE WAS FANTASTIC IN EVERY WAY. IT CREEPED ME OUT AND I THOUGHT THE ACTING WAS PRETTY GOOD. MARILYN BURNS DOES A GREAT JOB AS SALLY AND GUNNAR HANSEN AS LEATHERFACE WAS AWSOME. I THOUGHT EVERY ONE DID A GOOD JOB IN THE MOVIE.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    the best version i have seen

    the remake of this movie was the best version of this movie i had to hold my dads hand the whole time. it was the best.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    OK, don't watch this if you are eating...

    I have a pretty iron stomach, but I made the mistake of watching this with snacks in hand..BIG MISTAKE!! It is an awesome movie, but very graphic

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    What do u think u are doing?

    you made a movie about a real live human being. He killed people because they ridiculed him and made fun of him.That is all he knew.I dont think its right that you make a movie about him. You want to scare people and you know what it does. They still have not found him!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Excellent!

    the movie was great! it was scary, gory and suspensful. i love movies like this! if you haven't seen the new one with Jessica Biel, go and watch it. its not the same as the old first one. leatherface is still in it, and still killing people, but its totally different. but still scary!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    OMG This is Absolutely Unbelieveable!!!!!

    I feel that the TCM is an excellent and surprisingly freaky film (even with its extremely low budget) I think that hooper is unbelieveable that someone could make a film in which is based upon truth!!! I felt sick to my stomach and had to close all doors in my room to watch this flick ( Mainly becuase i was worried Leatherface would hack his way into my bedroom, isn't like many of the new 'Horror' flicks such as Halloween, (the victim is running yet the bad guy is walking and catches up to the victim!?!?! Doesnt make any sense. EXCELLENT Movie to get Scared @!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    One of the best horror movie I've ever seen...

    This movie is gruesome and horrifying like no other. It left chills running down my back all night. It is a classic like no other. If your a person who loves scary movies then I really recommend this film.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    I wanted to SCREAM!

    This movie will give you the ultimate goose bumps and it won't let you sleep for days! Well,.......at least I diden't!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A True Horror Classic!

    This has got to be one of the best horror films of all time. It is inspired by true life events which makes it even more disturbing. It may be a little out of date for first time viewers, but luckily for them, a newer version is being released in theaters. Hopefully, it will not disappoint, but if it does, then we will always have this origanal classic to watch over and over!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Texas Chainsaw Masacre - TRUE!!!

    Okay...just to answer all of your thoughts and suspicions about this story...it is based on a true story that took place in Wisconsin! Have a great Halloween!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Always Stay Alert!!

    I thought the movie was great. Finally a movie that keeps you wondering when the next time you'll be scared. I thought it was freaky when the murderer was killing the girl and he turned around and had (Jesica Biel)boyfriends face attached to him...

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A mix of Charlie Manson and Jason!

    'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,' is the scariest movie since the 'Exorcist.' The mad man with the chainsaw has the combined mentality of a pyschotic serial killer (similar to that of Charlie Manson or Jeffrey Dahmer), and the characteristics of the man in the mask, 'Jason.' This combination is enough to even scare Bin Laden out of hiding.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Excellent

    Wow... all I can say is that movie definitely kicked some @$$. I mean, it was the first time I actually jumped so hard in my seat at all the parts that were meant to scare you. And I seriously thought the Mothman Prophecies or the Ring was the scariest movies of all time; it definitely made me think again! Not only to add the fact that everything on the film has happened in real life.. and the guy is still.. well, I won't give out the ending for all u people who haven't seen the movie yet.. hehehe.

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 33 Customer Reviews