The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

Name: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Horror
Released: October 1, 1974
Duration: 83 min
Rating: 92
Cast: Edwin Neal, Marilyn Burns

1974

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 18 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 190 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	Your Score
7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 190 Ratings

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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

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Movie Details & Credits

Bryanston Distributing | Release Date: October 1, 1974 | R

Starring: Edwin Neal, Marilyn Burns

Summary: The story begins with five innocent kids on their way to checkout reports of grave robbing. As Sally, (Marilyn Burns) her invalid brother Franklin, and three friends head out to inspect the gravesite of her family, they are soon side tracked on the ultimate journey of terror. One by one, they wander into the murderous clutches ofThe story begins with five innocent kids on their way to checkout reports of grave robbing. As Sally, (Marilyn Burns) her invalid brother Franklin, and three friends head out to inspect the gravesite of her family, they are soon side tracked on the ultimate journey of terror. One by one, they wander into the murderous clutches of Leatherface and his trusty chainsaw. … Expand

Director: Tobe Hooper

Genre(s): Mystery, Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 83 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Bryan Curtis

One of the most relentless scare pictures ever made. Read full review

100

Adam Lowes

Four decades after its release, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre still justifies its place in the pantheon of all-time horror greats. Read full review

100

Tom Huddleston

As much as any surrealist arthouse flick, Texas Chain Saw feels like a nightmare made real, an inescapable but entirely authentic vision of pure hell. Read full review

100

Chris Parcellin

A black-humored, unflinching look at the Ugly American at his psychotic worst. And Tobe Hooper is at his best as a writer and director here. Read full review

100

Scott Tobias

The film never loses its intensity from the first moment Leatherface's sledgehammer drops. It's horror without a safety net: Survival isn't guaranteed for anyone, heroism and struggle are often futile, and as the old adage says, you can never come home again. Read full review

100

Empire Kim Newman

The film has outstanding sound effects, art direction and editing, and a clutch of effective, if necessarily, one-note performances. Read full review

Roger Ebert

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is as violent and gruesome and blood-soaked as the title promises -- a real Grand Guignol of a movie. It’s also without any apparent purpose, unless the creation of disgust and fright is a purpose. And yet in its own way, the movie is some kind of weird, off-the-wall achievement. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to make a movie like this, and yet it’s well-made, well-acted, and all too effective. Read full review

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User Reviews

j30

Nov 9, 2011

An essential horror classic. A very disturbing slasher film that can't be ignored or forgotten.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Greyhoundes

Feb 1, 2021

Masterpiece Masterpiece Masterpiece Masterpiece Masterpiece Masterpiece Masterpiece

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

johnd6213

Feb 20, 2020

TCM is the most horrifying movie ever.It blows the socks off of most other horror movies.
I defy anyone to name me a more horrifying movie.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

IanReyP.

Oct 18, 2008

I have only watched this version of the Texas Chainsaw, and it had a good story. The sounds really spooked me, and I had to lower the volume. I was scared in some scenes but I wished those scenes were expanded more, I did not felt so much is some of them. Since this film was made in the 70s I have only watched this version of the Texas Chainsaw, and it had a good story. The sounds really spooked me, and I had to lower the volume. I was scared in some scenes but I wished those scenes were expanded more, I did not felt so much is some of them. Since this film was made in the 70s I had to give a bigger credit and give it a 9.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

BeastJ18

Apr 23, 2018

So much later horror takes a lot from this movie. The mise-en-scene is a terrific example of how to make the audience terrified and tense. While the acting is terrible, given the low budget, this is a phenomenally directed slasher.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ThatCooperGuy

Jun 25, 2015

I think the acting is the strongest part of this movie. It helped get me involved with the characters and did manage to scare me. Still a good horror flick.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Ninteundo

Apr 21, 2018

Movie full of mindless murdering, I really dont understand why this movie gets so much praise.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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