The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

Bryanston Distributing | Release Date: October 1, 1974

7.8	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 190 Ratings

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survivorfan989Jul 1, 2013

I quite enjoyed the 2003 remake and the two prequels that followed afterwards so I kind of wanted to go back to where it all began and see what the original was like. Considering it's mid 70's I still managed to enjoy it and can see howI quite enjoyed the 2003 remake and the two prequels that followed afterwards so I kind of wanted to go back to where it all began and see what the original was like. Considering it's mid 70's I still managed to enjoy it and can see how effective this would have been back then, perhaps not so much now but still its a very well done Horror film, and was probably the first of its kind back then. All things considered its not a great film, but I'll give it props for still making me jump!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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cool1707Apr 1, 2013

it was alright in terms of horror it was creepy and unerving but the movie started out boring and things only started getting good in the last 20-30 minutes of the movie. It was good i can see why people like it but i didnt find it the bestit was alright in terms of horror it was creepy and unerving but the movie started out boring and things only started getting good in the last 20-30 minutes of the movie. It was good i can see why people like it but i didnt find it the best but i will admit the leatherface in this creeped the hell out of me… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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grandpajoe6191Sep 23, 2011

I don't quite get the 'artistically' brutal gore & blood, but what makes the movie worth watching is the last 15 minutes.

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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akshatmahajanOct 24, 2020

I went into this movie with high expectations because of its reputation. And had I seen this in 1974 when it was released, those expectations may have been met. But that is not the case.

The plot was good but not detailed. It had so manyI went into this movie with high expectations because of its reputation. And had I seen this in 1974 when it was released, those expectations may have been met. But that is not the case.

The plot was good but not detailed. It had so many gaps. The acting was bad especially the last surviving girl who just kept screaming till the movie ended. There was no scene which made any impact except the the scene when we are first introduced to Leatherface. The pace was good and running time was also sufficient. But at this running time they could have easily made a detailed movie, which they didn't.

Overall, I do not understand how this movie became so popular. If I saw it when it first came out my opinion might be different but for now, I didn't like it that much.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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HellHoleHorrorJan 28, 2023

On the face of it, it looks pretty amateurish but looking deeper the extensive dolly shots, moody imposing angles and intense zooms make for very original cinematography. It is so gritty and so ugly but it fits the content perfectly. ItOn the face of it, it looks pretty amateurish but looking deeper the extensive dolly shots, moody imposing angles and intense zooms make for very original cinematography. It is so gritty and so ugly but it fits the content perfectly. It sounds messy and the music is ill timed at places but this adds to the believability and intense realism. Compared to the relatively soulless remake The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) which utilises much higher production-values I think that the sound and vision really complement the content. This is really scary and so intense considering the age of the film. It contains many memorable moments and you can understand why it spawned so many sequels which took the characters and turned them into eighties franchise clichés. This first film was totally original and brutally fascinating to watch. It is unrelenting. I forgot how amazing this horror really is. Although technically not perfect this is the perfectly constructed horror.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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RobR.Feb 3, 2004

I left the theatre wanting my $6.50 back. It really was that bad. Better acting than expected though. Plenty of gore but not nearly scary enough, and I can spook myself out with my own shadow..I expected to be up all night, scared silly...I I left the theatre wanting my $6.50 back. It really was that bad. Better acting than expected though. Plenty of gore but not nearly scary enough, and I can spook myself out with my own shadow..I expected to be up all night, scared silly...I slept like a baby and only felt silly I wasted my time and money. [Ed: If you paid $6.50 in 1974, you were ripped off, my friend.]… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

TheQuietGamerFeb 17, 2015

It kind of pains me to have to criticize this movie for not aging well. I mean it was made it 1974 for crying out loud and it's not hard to imagine how terrifying it must have been to people back then. Today however it's not scary in theIt kind of pains me to have to criticize this movie for not aging well. I mean it was made it 1974 for crying out loud and it's not hard to imagine how terrifying it must have been to people back then. Today however it's not scary in the least and can be rather boring. Sometimes it's even annoying.

The excellent portrayal of the crazy, backwoods family is still kind of creepy and absurd in a black-humor sort of way. However outside of that and the influence it had on the genre there's nothing else that stands out about it. At least not in a good way.

The pacing has aged mostly well, but some scenes just drag on for too long. Was it really necessary to have a prolonged section where Marilyn Burns is just screaming non-stop for several minutes? It's old-school filmmaking decisions like that which make the film kind of hard to watch today.

It's definitely a classic of the horror genre. However it's just not one that's aged well at all. Due to it's legacy it's one I can say I'm glad I watched. I just can't say that I enjoyed it. It's a piece of horror history that any hardcore genre aficionado should check out. However doing so means putting up with a lot of issues brought on by age. Because of that it really is only for the most hardcore of horror fans.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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robomartionOct 29, 2022

Is this a horror or comedy? As a comedy and spectacle snippet of total insanity I think it passes. There is no plot or movie here. Just a bunch of increasingly unhinged scenes. The film could easily have had a lot of development with a moreIs this a horror or comedy? As a comedy and spectacle snippet of total insanity I think it passes. There is no plot or movie here. Just a bunch of increasingly unhinged scenes. The film could easily have had a lot of development with a more serious tone but I guess that isn't what they were going for. There's no music or anything. The scariest part of the whole movie is the intro, the vibe of which is totally abandoned afterwards. It is surprisingly light hearted for what you are actually witnessing. It gets points for being different but its another cult film where you go is that it? The name The Texas Chainsaw Massacre has carried with it a lot of weight and gravitas ever since I first heard it. After seeing the movie any mystique that the movie earned has certainly gone out the window.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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amheretojudgeDec 7, 2018

Hooper's adaptive gore vision is frankly too much even for the the audience of this genre.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Hooper's adaptive gore vision is frankly too much even for the the audience of this genre. There is one thing toHooper's adaptive gore vision is frankly too much even for the the audience of this genre.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

Hooper's adaptive gore vision is frankly too much even for the the audience of this genre. There is one thing to exaggerate in order to leave a scaring harrowing impression on you to communicate the magnitude of the stakes and another to just mess with you. And yes, that is probably the reason why no matter how much you keep yourself reserved from it, this tale does get you and it is because Hooper is enjoying himself. His clear and- contrary to popular belief- clean vision is what amps up the ante of this ambitious project. This indie low budget cinema is actually an inspiring case for the newcomers out there to choose both style and substance through brilliant execution.

Now coming down to the cons, it is annoyingly loud and not just the screaming but its repetitive nature that it is fixated on. It makes sure everything is double checked, it is productive but also at times irrelevant, few deaths could have been lopped off. It is more mano-y-mano than your usual horror drama, it also resembles eerily with Halloween, the concept may be shared by Hooper, but his pathos cynicism cannot be matched. To add more to its troubles, the solution of the antagonist doesn't even exist. It gets so brutally loud and poignant that you feel paralyzed to its circumstances and leaves you floating in its abyss.

The performance is another weakness of it, that itches you throughout the course. Neither the frightened actors are able to express the fear nor the people on the other side of the door are dogmatic enough to give you the chills. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a mind numbing tour gone wrong case, it has its moments that stays with you, but it surely isn't something you'd be able to trade with for its unnerving psychology.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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