The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger, Paul A. Partain, William Vail Movie Review

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)   3/53/53/53/53/5


The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

Have Chain Saw, Will Kill

When news hits that someone has been desecrating grave stones in a cemetery a brother and sister along with their friends decide to stop of there on the way an old home which is in the family. But after an unsettling encounter with a scary hitch hiker they finally reach the abandoned old building. But it seems their nightmare is just starting when they encounter a crazed cannibal with a love of chain saws.

I've watched "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" three times in my life; once towards the end of the 80s on a dodgy video, again in the 90s and then now for the purpose of this review. But my opinions of "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" has remained the same and that is an over hyped movie which might have worked for audiences back in 1974 but has since benefited from its notoriety for being banned in many countries for its violence and graphic nature. I genuinely believe that this is one of those movies where people haven't watched it but because it is notorious go along and proclaim its greatness.

The thing about "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" is that it was shocking for its time because it was graphic but approached now it doesn't come close to having the same impact. From the run in with the psycho hitchhiker to the creepy house with skeletons hanging from the ceiling and feathers all over the floor it just doesn't scare you. Even the encounters with Leatherface are not as great as you might believe with instead a case of editing to make it more horrific than it really is.

But the worst thing for me is so much of the movie is filled with aimless bits from artistic shots against a setting sun to dull conversations between characters and what feels like a ridiculously long chase scene. It at times feels like Tobe Hooper had some bright ideas when it came to delivering some graphic scenes but struggled with actually delivering a coherent narrative.

What this all boils down to is that "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" has never really impressed me and whilst part of that is down to the fact I didn't see it for the first time till the late 80s I also believe its bitty nature and struggle for a narrative to last its duration causes it problems.


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