@@Maab_835 yeah I guess in 6th installment of this franchise probably a prequel, They showed that police came & burnt their house but Leatherface survived... I guess the movie name is " Texans chainsaw massacre 3d"
@@Maab_835 The VCR movie had a clip where police are walking through the house to document evidence. When they reach the basement door, Leatherface attacks them
@@Maab_835 the police gets involved in most of them i think, at least in TCM2, 3D and that Leatherface prequel that sucks ass (still need to watch the rest of the movies)
Franklin was severely misunderstood. He was in a wheelchair, probably for most of his life, and everyone kinda treated him like he was a burden. And his sister, who most likely convinced him to accompany her on this cross-country trip, ditches him the first chance she gets. The dude got cut with a dirty razor blade, and all Sally can do is roll her eyes and leave him downstairs. I'd be fuming, too, if I were Franklin.
He even gets rolled down a hill and goes flying out of his wheelchair while he was just trying to take a pee. I always felt sorry for him, even if he was a little annoying... But as you said, can you blame him during this trip?
@lostinthought7349 nah you see, my friends amd I aren't pussies. We don't need a restaurant waiter to notice when we don't like someone and help us get rid of them. As an adult, we just tell those we don't like to piss off. Now piss off puss
THANK YOU. Franklin and his sister have issues because she has to assume role of a caretaker she does not truly want- but she half asses it. Even half assing is taxing, though, so she builds resentment because of it. And HE builds resentment because he NEEDS help yet he's always treated like a burden, needs to plea for every little thing, and he still gets the short end of the stick. And the man was RIGHT. HE WANTED TO GET THE HELL OUTTA THERE. Sally didn't listen and he died because of it. Well, he probably would have died anyways, but it would be less infuriating if he died while she was doing her best to save him, instead of literally pushing him into the chainsaw.
What I love most about this film is that there's no swearing, nudity, sex, or even that much gore, yet it still manages to horrify the audience enough to earn its R rating.
I think part of what works so well about the original TCM is that it doesn't really feel like a traditional movie. It's much more grounded, like you're a fly on the wall watching events that are actually happening.
Especially for those of us who grew up in places that looked like the area, or like the hills have eyes. There’s a few stretches between towns where there’s also no cell service which adds to the anxiety I feel 😹
Excellent essay. I don't understand how they have never been able to get leatherface right after the first film. He is far more unsettling as an anxious man child who kills out of fear. TCM is the definition of lightning in a bottle. It can never be recreated
True. They cannot even remotely capture the same tone as the original TCM . It’s just not possible. I honestly find 80s horror movie trailers to be much creepier than modern Horror movies. The problem with Leatherface is he’s a “one and done” character. He is not a deep character that you can stretch out over 2 or more movies. He needs to be introduced in a movie and either killed off or imprisoned at the end of it. Trying to bring him back for a sequel just does not work. Or trying to make a reboot and ‘reimagine’ his character just doesn’t work either Love the TCM series but it’s a hard series to build on. I think TCM 3 did the best job although it’s a bit Messy in ways. TCM is similar to Halloween in that the main characters - the longer you try to stretch them out the more unappealing they become
I liked the 2003 depiction where he was more malicious but I agree that it’s way scarier for him to be an anxious panicky abuse victim that can’t be reasoned with because no matter what you say to him he fears his family’s punishment more
The most shocking part for me was finding myself becoming annoyed by Sally's ceaseless screaming as she's tied to the chair. It made me question my own morality.
I know exactly what you mean lol I re watched it and realized she was just going to keep screaming I double clicked and skipped ahead about a minute lol.
Bruv not me. Not like that. They came to a place freshly ransacked by grave robbers who PLAY with corpses and then a madlad marked their van with blood. I would have gotten the fuck outta there.
The coolest thing to me is noticing that the dinner scene in re:7 is almost a direct copy of the dinner scene of this movie, hyperactive brother, older main antagonist, ancient distant relative who’s almost worshipped, the protagonist being forced to eat with them, etc. interesting to see the overlap in inspiration from 2 huge series
@johnclay2716 its not about stealing scenes. They took inspiration for a scene in a video game based off a cult classic horror movie from the 70's. Theres a famous saying. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."
I think Leatherface doesn't get as much praise as a horror villain that he deserves. We all know the big 3, Michael, Jason, and Freddy who are super natural beings. But leatherface was the first villain who was just a guy in unfortunate circumstances
I always figured the Hitchhiker was marking them because he knew that Drayton would see it. Maybe that symbol means that this group is safe to go for, no weapons and non aggressive even when one of them is attacked (Franklin with the knife in the van). You'd think they must have some kind of system so that someone doesn't pull a gun or something on any of them. No symbol? Not food. Symbol? Dinner bell. They were headed towards the gas station and it had to have been the only one nearby. I think the cook noticed the symbol, told them there was no gas (though there likely was) and then told them not to go messing around in that old house. This was smart of him because what did young people hate back then? Some old person telling them what to do. He knew they wouldn't listen. He offered for them to wait, but had already told them it would be much later or tomorrow before any gas showed up so they'd go explore nearby his house in the meantime rather than sit and wait till maybe tomorrow for gas. Makes you wonder if Nubbins hitchhikes just to find new food, and how many times he's done this. Man this is a good movie. There are so many different ways to interpret dn everything
That's what I thought as well. The family doesn't seem far enough from civilization to kill every single passerby and even Ed Gein interacted with society as if he were normal. So the blood mark was probably a signal for the family to attack this particular van
This film is terrifying, because there is so much of this nation that is just wide open and unknown. Ever drive down a lonely stretch of highway and see a single house? You might get a flat tire right there. And it might not be an accident. And that home may hold a psycho...
I think the most realistic unlike Jason where after some time it ain't scary is that it's realistic it has stuff that messes with minds and realism that I think to some degree it's brings out our fear instincts
This. Your comment took me back to the real life murders of Norris & Bittaker - The Toolbox Killers. They used to abduct unsuspecting young women hitchhikers in California in the 70’s and torture them.
When he explained the slaughterhouse noises being put in the movie AND WHY: gave me goosebumps from scalp to toes. They still won’t go away. The movie was already so freaky. Now it’s begging for a re-watch wow.
@@ec6933So basically the movie is supposed to be sort of a critique on the meat industry as the human victims of leatherface are treated the same way animals like pigs, cows, etc are treated in slaughterhouses. Thats why some of the kills have noises like that in background to really just put the fear of god in you lol.
@Sorino_244 the animals are treated better than this. All those sounds, and the dressing down and everything all happen after an animal is given an incredibly quick d*ath.
Edwin Neal, the actor who played Nubbins the Hitchhiker, said this about the dinner scene: “filming that scene was the worst time of my life… and I had been in Vietnam, with people trying to kill me, so I guess that shows how bad it was." Apparently, the actors hallucinated that they actually were their characters too and actually in the situation they were filming. Burns says she actually started to think the others were going to kill her for real. This includes Gunnar Hansen thinking he really was Leatherface. He genuinely considered killing her when told to by the other characters.
This is so interesting, but admittedly hard to believe the heat got to all of them to such a dire extent. Are there interviews about this? Genuinely curious
@@scottsspotI didn’t see that exact interview, but there’s a couple documentaries about it on Tubi worth watching. It was day time when they filmed the dinner scene, so they had to cover up all the windows. That and the heat from the lighting and stuff made it like a 130 degrees when they were filming. It was so hot that one of the decorations they made out of a real chicken started to break down and rot in the heat. The crazy temperature and the smell got to them really bad.
@@scottsspotthere’s a documentary about the filming. It wasn’t just the heat, it was the fact that it took so long, the food on the table was going off, the actors couldn’t bathe, it was dark and steaming hot and smelly also. They were under so much stress and exhausted as well.
My dad lived near where they filmed TCM whwn he was a kid. one day while riding his horse, he heard and saw a woman screamimg and he tried to help her but found out they were filmimg TCM. He got to meet Tobe Hooper, Marilyn Burns and Gunnar Hansen.
Thank you for acknowledging the sometimes excessive Franklin hate even with the jokes throughout. I don't understand how someone would not be upset being him in that situation even before people began dying bro was having a rough day.
That intro is still one of the creepiest intros to a horror film ever. The rotting bodies tied together to make the monument still looks so realistic to this day, which adds to the terrifying nature of it. I also love how gritty and visceral the film looks. Nothing can compare to it, and it still holds up really well to this day.
That dance is so iconic that even Leatherface's outro in Mortal Kombat X is him revving up the chainsaw and dancing with it (only viewable if you fail to do a fatality)
I dated a girl, and we went and saw the remake in the early 2000's. She never saw the original so one night we watched it and she said she liked the remake better and that the original was lame and boring. We didn't go on another date.
Franklin works for me because his performance feeds into the mania of the whole thing. Yet another grating element in a film thats masterfully grating by design.
I was so surprised to find that people consider Franklin an annoying guy. I never considered him a whiny jerk, I thought everyone else was because he was excluded from every group interaction, it’s understandable that he was upset
Great review. I’m a near 40 year old dude who’d never seen this flick until a couple years ago. And even tho I knew everything about it just through exposure to pop and film culture, I loved it. Really stuck with me. The part I found most unsettling was Leatherface’s freak out after he kills, where he sits and tries to calm himself down. Creeped me out because his actions are totally reactionary. Nothing pre-mediated. Done out of pure fear. Urgh. Really want to watch Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, just to see how gonzo it gets.
Part 2 is my favorite. It's a true cult classic. It's almost a parody of the first movie. It has the always fantastic Dennis Hopper who's in top form. Gonzo is a good word to describe it. I hope you like it!
It's really a great movie and it's much smarter and has a lot more stuff going on in it then a lot of people realize if they disregard it simply as a gross out horror film. People have always recognized this about it. Stanley Kubrick apparently owned an actual film print of TCM. Unfortunately, none of the sequels are particularly good, imo.
This is the most horrifying film. So raw, gritty and very docu-style. No paranormal or supernatural. There could be a leatherface out there no one even knows about.
You basically explained why Leatherface was my favorite Slasher and why he's never been done right. In 1974 Leatherface was on the defensive and trying to interpret the world around him. He was just one member of his family. The more they downplay Leatherface's family the less interested I become of him. But it's also that Leatherface is a monster with horrible implications, the fact that he was normalized to this violence.
This has always been one of my favorite horror movies. It's deeply unsettling all these years later and was influential on horror. As a vegetarian from the Deep South, I always got three things from this film: a critique of factory farming, a look at the tensions between hippies and older conservative southerners in the 70s and a reflection on the collapse of Southern society post-Civil War.
I watched this movie at way too young of an age lol I was probably like 8 when my babysitter showed me this movie and I never forgot the first leatherface kill scene and the way the guy seizes and where he hangs the girl up
Damn. That’s way too young. I was early teens and that was bad enough. The intro with the radio in the background captures your attention straightaway and like you the scene with the meat hook has never left me ever since I first saw it.
What a FANTASTIC video! This is my all time favorite horror film and I’m someone that is a certified chicken when it comes to scary movies. One of my favorite things about this film is the incredible sound design… the THUD when Leatherface whacks those kids in the head and the SLAM of the sliding door, the strange cracking sound with the closeup shot of those spiders, the absolute SILENCE against the screams.. just amazing through and through!
What makes this movie so effective has always been a little hard to pinpoint, it is so much more than the sum of its parts. Truly one of those rare "lightning in a bottle" movies where everything just comes together perfectly, every element adding to the nightmarish sense of dread that seems to permeate every frame. For me the best sequence is probably Kirk's death and Pam's capture... Kirk enters the house, Leatherface appears out of the shadows, (accompanied by what sounds like pigs squealing) bludgeons Kirk, leaving him kicking and flailing on the floor, and then slams that metal door with such grim finality. The whole scene takes less than a minute, but it packs a visceral punch. 17:51 Then Pam goes to investigate, tries to flee from the house, bursts out the front door, only to be snatched back by Leatherface at the last second and dragged back inside, screaming. 18:55 This is as good as horror movies get.
This was a fantastic video. I've never seen your videos before, but I'll be sure to stay tuned for more from now on. You made one hell of a great first impression with this one.
Leather face is the most terrifying character ever.A human being who isn't fully human,with no basic understanding of himself,I get the feeling he's been created by his own family .
He is a human being though. Just one in a really, really messed up family with extreme jubilance toward violence, influenced by the slaughterhouse mentality.
If nobody else has said it, I will; you are the absolute best on the internet at these horror movie breakdowns. Your views and how you phrase them, your video production and your narration - perfect. Please don't stop!
The “if I have any more fun today” line always makes me giggle. And I love that even the actor who plays Franklin agrees that he is in his own words “such a whiny bastard”
Definitely #1 reason why TCM scary is because it seems so likely to happen, so does Michael and Jason too- but they unrealistically take hits from absurd things and shrug it off.
I think this first film and, to a lesser degree, even the second both heavily suggest that the family is practicing some bizarro form of folk magic- the ritualistic grave desecration, talismans made from bones & found objects pierced with nails (Merricat does this in We Have Always Lived in The Castle to protect her and her family), the obvious influence of the sun is even reflected across the property with sunflowers, and then there's Grandpa (& Grandma in TCM2) that have no business being animated at 98% dehydration. It's definitely not the ~point~ but an element that has always fascinated me
I saw this film for the first time as a young kid back in 1983 (it was famously withdrawn from video shelves in the UK and i shouldnt have seen it really 😂). The film plays like a fever ridden nightmare that is foreboding and vicous from the first frame... and it is relentless when it really gets going. It's a very unique movie experience indeed and i love how you respect the age and impact this movie has had over the last 50 years. BRAVO Evan! It's an amazing essay - you should be proud! 🎉
Great recap. I'd also just like to add that the Hitchhiker's name is still unknown. "Nubbins" was a nickname for his body, but Ed Neal told me that it wasn't his character's real name.
I'm 57. I remember the ads, and the 'coolest' teenagers talk about how awesome it was. I wanted to see it so bad, but I was 7 so. I finally got to see it when I worked in a video store my senior year of HS. I've loved it since. Yeah, a lot of the other products with the title are just bad. But, not everything. I actually like early 00s re-make with R. Lee Ermy. May be Jessica Biels best work.
OMG ! Despite your very young age, anytime I watch your video, I'm never disappointed. I'll never praize enough young generations recognizing masterpieces made prior to the 2000's even if some recent movies in horror genre are really pretty good. But giving so many details that set some movies apart is truly awesome. Anyway, as a 55-year-old-man, all I can say is that this very young man is a genius on his own perspective and deep dive analysis in all his videos. Keep up the excellent work buddy. I am pretty sure that your channel is about to grow fast 👍
Older movies like these are literally so much better than movies we have today!! Im 16 years old and grew up with parents born in the 60's so I ended up growing up watching the older movies which I really love
I watched Texas Chainsaw Massacre last night for the first time in years. This is no horror, but a fucking nightmare. Apart from The Exorcist I've never seen a movie portraying such an evil entity in a realistic way. It's an incredible piece of independent film making.
I love how Resident Evil 7 referenced the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The beginning of the game gave it that crazy family vibe in a collapsing house in the middle of nowhere. Oh and I very like head cheese
If you didn't see TCM for the first time in a packed movie theatre, you missed it. When Kirk gets dropped and Leatherface slams the steel door shut, that Moog shot in the soundscape just rocked you through the ceiling. Talk about a "Holy WTF just happened" moment!?! This film had me flipped out for a few weeks!
Honestly im Jeaulous, first time i seen it was on a discord call with one of my friends, we spent all week watching horror movies, TCM is still my favorite one out of the ones we watched
Fun fact the name of this movie in Italy Is "non aprire quella porta" or in english "do not open that Door". The name Is so far off couse translating literally "Texas chainsaw massacre" in italian Is impossible without making It sound horrible and convoluted
That’s really interesting, I’ve always wondered if translating certain sentences into other languages keeps the feeling those sentences give you or if its impact is lost in translation (like how “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” has such an ominous impact in English). I guess this is a circumstance of that effect being lost in translation. Thanks for sharing!
@@weston06. Since you are intrested i Will elaborate: in Italy A LOT of movies and books get completly different names. This Is couse english Is a much simpler language. While in english you can Just use 3 words "Texas chainsaw massacre" in italian you Need to specify the relation between them, It would be "massacro con la motosega in Texas" or "massacre with a chainsaw in Texas". Now you see why they decided to change It up completly😂 Other exemples are Dead poets society wich became "l'attimo fuggente" or "the fleeing Moment" or Home alone wich became "mamma ho perso l'aereo" or "mom i Lost the plane" or The Shawshank Redemption wich became "le ali della libertà" or "wings of freedoom"
Wasn't expecting your commentary to be so good, from serious to comedic in a flash, bravo my guy. Also, the screech from the meat hook is because it should've pierced a lung, loosing air pressure through your back, that the sound it "should" make if you tried to scream
I remember being like seven or so, putting the TV on, cause I thought they were playing some Batman film that day. Turns out I got the date mixed and jumped right into the middle of the hitchhiker scene in the van. I didn’t sleep too well that night.
Gonna be honest, I originally was not a fan of this film. It just wasn't for me for years. HOWEVER, after watching The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs on Shudder and listening to him talk about this film, I gave it another shot, but with an open mind and I'm starting to like it. I get more into the art of the film than the film itself, and that is what makes this film brilliant for me now.
Having been born in '78 and being a kid in the early 80s in rural Indiana, TTCM is kind of the possibility behind what scared me as a kid. I used to spend time at my cousin's house out in the country. We'd explore in the summer time. A property littered with old abandoned cars from the 60s, rusting and twisted with busted out headlights like hollow dead eyes. Sharp old farm implements, hooks blades and heavy car parts that could cut you wide open or smash hands and fingers. Random dead animals and bugs flying about. The smell of decay. An old white enamel refrigerator with razor sharp rusted edges waiting for you to haphazardly run your fingers across, thinking it's smooth rounded shape is safe. These cloudy memories of childhood spent in places like this really echo TCM's aesthetic for me. It's not a hard leap for kid me to think these are the kinds of people who might have used and owned this stuff. Creepy country people who might not have an issue slitting a throat and hanging people on meat hooks inside an oppressively stuffy and hot hoarder house of nightmares.
The one thing that scared me the most about the 1st Texas Chainsaw movie was the part where they were at the dining table with the supposedly dead grandma and grandpa, and the victims were forced to put their bloody finger inside the supposedly dead grandma and grandpa, and it looked like they came alive and started sucking the victims bloody finger.
The '70s had a lot of scary films that have held up well like 'I Spit On Your Grave', 'Last House on the Left' 'The Wickerman', 'Suspiria', 'Cannibal Holocaust', and my favorite 'Alien'. Even some PG rated films like 'Jaws' have held up well. It was a great time in cinema.
Terrific video essay of my favorite horror film! Thank you for this. My only complaint, and it's just a personal pet peeve of mine, is referring to the "Sawyer house" and the "Sawyer family" when talking about the first film. Yes, I know they were given that name in the sequel, but it's always felt to me like a bit of revisionist history in a 12-years-later sequel that Hooper never really wanted to make in the first place. He only agreed to do so as part of a contract that would allow him to make a couple of other films he really wanted to make. Naming the family the "Sawyers" always felt like nothing more than a cheap joke, and while it fits with the darkly comedic tone of the second movie, that type of gag just wouldn't have fit the dark and sinister tone of the original; in fact, I think referring to the family in the original film with names like "Sawyer" and "Nubbins" diminishes them and makes them less scary. Not knowing their names somehow makes them more terrifying. And speaking of "Nubbins"...I've never been convinced that that is meant to be the hitchhiker's actual name in Part Two. I've always thought that it was nothing more than Chop Top's pet name for the hitchhiker's corpse. But that's just one man's opinion! Finally, I'm actually planning a weekend trip to some of the filming locations in late October for my birthday, and will be staying in one of the cabins behind the gas station! Dinner at Hooper's in Kingsland is also on the itinerary. Can't wait!
Okay I'm building an altar for you, this was such a good analysis of my favorite movie of all time, I hope you can one day get the recognition you deserve
I found this channel about 3 hours ago from this video, I don't know about you other guys here but love how much this dude genuinely loves the genre and looking at his catalogue, there's so much here to love too. Keep doing what you're doing king, you got a new subscriber and massive fan of your content 💜 ...Also George A. Romero movies perhaps? 👀👀
God I fucking CACKLED at the Canadian comment about temperature since I live in Alberta where we get 30s in the summer but still get our friendly - 40s in the winter
I love listening to your videos while I’m working. So happy to see a new horror movie retrospective from you just in time for the chill weather we got in Indiana today!
This film is beautiful. It’s shot so well, and has this timeless quality while also feeling very of its time. Almost feels like an arthouse film, something recent like that would be In a Violent Nature
I love your video essay here and you brought up so many points that I haven’t seen other creators brought up. This is also one of the horror movies that I always feel a sense of dread when watching. It really is timeless and hard to sit through (in the best way).😊
This and the original rob zombie films made me actually feel bad the first time I watched them but watching them back there is something so raw and real about them, the actors in this film definitely got traumatized but it feels authentic, I’ve noticed lately the low budget horror films go back to the 70s in style and I fully respect it
Bravo 👏🏻 I've never heard anyone explain this horrific classic so close to my own experience with it. You pointed out everything i knew i loved about this movie, and some other things i didn't realize why i was so fascinated with them. Well done! 👍🏻 Such a terrifying movie that's haunted me for over 40 years now
As a huge fan of the TCM franchise, basically since my childhood. I think these film is one of the most influential and perfect horror films due to its raw intensity, innovative storytelling, and visceral impact. Although despite it's reputation, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre isn't excessively gory compared to modern horror films. Hooper relied more on suggestion and psychological horror, letting the audience’s imagination do much of the work. The lack of explicit gore combined with the terrifying context of the violence leaves a lasting psychological impact, which can be more disturbing than graphic depictions of violence. 17:52 What really makes that scene so scary and effective is its suddenness. There’s no build-up, no music that hints an upcoming fright; it’s completely silent except for the sound of the squealing pig. It’s the sound of the hammer making contact and how downright nasty it sounds and the way how Kirk drops to the floor in convulsions from the blow. The sound of the pig punctuates Kirk’s clumsy trip and the way Leatherface hits him again to make him stop moving before dragging him inside seals the terrifying deal of the whole attack. But the moment that ties it all together is when Leatherface slams the sliding door, and the music suddenly has a lasting sting that haunts the moment and leaves you sitting in shock. The entire scene doesn't even last a minute, it happens in a matter of seconds and yet it sets the tone for the rest of the movie and tells the viewers that what they’re watching is much more than just a typical slasher film. 20:43-21:23 Gunnar Hansen’s portrayal of Leatherface. Is just so iconic because it was both terrifying and multi-dimensional. Leatherface isn’t just a mentally disabled killer; he’s a disturbed and tormented figure, shaped by his abusive and dysfunctional family. Hansen's portrayal gave Leatherface depth, conveying a sense of fear and confusion as well as brutality. Something that we never saw back again since in the remake film of 2003 and in the Netflix 2022 film, they turned Leatherface into sort of a Jason Voorhees type of killer.
Just saw this the other day, man. Local theatre had a 50th anniversary showing. Was real surprised by how creepy certain scenes was. Was especially creeper out by the main gal running upstairs and seeing the grandpa and the corpse, real spooky sound design. I tell you hwat
-"Paying" someone with a joint -keeping actors around decomposing animal -cutting the actress's finger -nearly braining her with a hammer... Definitely makes the director look like a sociopath
This was a great dive into why this movie still works so well for me! Also, the Canadians living in igloos joke gave me a good snort laugh. Good job. :)
The feeling you get from dark, low budget horror films can be so much more effective than in your face, over the top gore! My oldest son has watched horror films since he was WAY too young. (My ex-wife took him to see Freddie vs Jason and Resident Evil 2 in the theater, IN KINDERGARTEN!) So, around 9yo, I showed him the original Night Of the Living Dead. When it was done, I was expecting him to shrug and say it was lame. He looked at me and said "That was just SO COOL! Because it was shot in black and white, with the low budget, and set at night, they used shadows and light. It wasn't what you could see clearly that terrified you, but what was hidden in the shadows!" Such depth from such a youngster!
I'd seen this movie many times and it always got to me, but following an experience in which I was, shall we say, viscerally exposed to the depths of human evil, suddenly I understood the film far more than I ever did. I sat in the theater as the credits rolled, sobbing and shaking uncontrollably, while my friends were at loss for how to help me. I wasn't exactly triggered, I was... spiritually horrified. This film captured the essence of cruelty, the indifference to suffering when compassion and empathy disappear.
This might be one of your best videos-thanks for this!! I learned a ton about a movie I’ve always found terrifying, but definitely didn’t fully appreciate-really appreciate your expertise on and enthusiasm for a film I think it’s easy for many to write off as torture porn!
As well as the bizarre bone furniture and such at the families house, Franklins family house also has a weird voodoo looking display Franklin spots. I think the blood symbol on the van is more of this. The Cook must have seen this on the van at the gas station and known this group of teens had come across his brother and were now marked as a target.
It's the shot of her screaming as the truck drives off. You're initially relieved, but then... it stays on her. And she keeps screaming. And you realise she has completely lost her mind. That final gut punch that she escaped but the damage was done. Brilliant.
Damn this movie is so incredibly well made. It made my skin crawl and i felt like i had to take a shower afterwards. The Franchise overall is so much Hit and miss - i get when someone does not like it. But the original? This one is perfection on so many levels. You feel like you saw something crazy gruesome - yet its pretty much in your head as it shows not a whole lot of gore and leaves a ton of it to the viewers Imagination. Just. Great.
Excellent review! When I was in college in the mid 90s, I wrote 2 papers on this movie and mentioned a lot of the same stuff that you did. I had the privilege of meeting Gunnar Hansen 2 years before he died. He was very impressed when I told him it was a modern day version of Hansel & Gretel. Definitely in my Top 10 horror films of all-time, along with The Exorcist, Halloween, Psycho, The Shining and Friday the 13th Part 2.
This movie is the blueprint of what a horror movie should be. I am very tempted to call it a perfect movie since it does exactly what it should. It's like a nightmare that never stops.
I dont think leatherface is scared of strangers, he is scared of his family's reaction if he lets them escape.
I have a question did sally informed authorities about this cannibal family and if yes did they do something about it?
@@Maab_835 yeah I guess in 6th installment of this franchise probably a prequel, They showed that police came & burnt their house but Leatherface survived... I guess the movie name is " Texans chainsaw massacre 3d"
@@Maab_835
The VCR movie had a clip where police are walking through the house to document evidence. When they reach the basement door, Leatherface attacks them
@@josedorsaith5261 I thought that was real and my older brother refused to talk me out of that position
@@Maab_835 the police gets involved in most of them i think, at least in TCM2, 3D and that Leatherface prequel that sucks ass (still need to watch the rest of the movies)
Franklin was severely misunderstood. He was in a wheelchair, probably for most of his life, and everyone kinda treated him like he was a burden. And his sister, who most likely convinced him to accompany her on this cross-country trip, ditches him the first chance she gets. The dude got cut with a dirty razor blade, and all Sally can do is roll her eyes and leave him downstairs. I'd be fuming, too, if I were Franklin.
Don't go to Hooper's
That's definitely advice @@lostinthought7349
He even gets rolled down a hill and goes flying out of his wheelchair while he was just trying to take a pee. I always felt sorry for him, even if he was a little annoying... But as you said, can you blame him during this trip?
@lostinthought7349 nah you see, my friends amd I aren't pussies. We don't need a restaurant waiter to notice when we don't like someone and help us get rid of them. As an adult, we just tell those we don't like to piss off. Now piss off puss
THANK YOU. Franklin and his sister have issues because she has to assume role of a caretaker she does not truly want- but she half asses it. Even half assing is taxing, though, so she builds resentment because of it. And HE builds resentment because he NEEDS help yet he's always treated like a burden, needs to plea for every little thing, and he still gets the short end of the stick.
And the man was RIGHT. HE WANTED TO GET THE HELL OUTTA THERE. Sally didn't listen and he died because of it. Well, he probably would have died anyways, but it would be less infuriating if he died while she was doing her best to save him, instead of literally pushing him into the chainsaw.
What I love most about this film is that there's no swearing, nudity, sex, or even that much gore, yet it still manages to horrify the audience enough to earn its R rating.
😂
You know this movie is all about the meat processing industry and it's mistreatment of animals we consume?
@@peterharris9022 and? what is this vegan propaganda?
@@ScallyWag637lmfao fr 😂
@@peterharris9022 how so?
I think part of what works so well about the original TCM is that it doesn't really feel like a traditional movie. It's much more grounded, like you're a fly on the wall watching events that are actually happening.
Especially for those of us who grew up in places that looked like the area, or like the hills have eyes. There’s a few stretches between towns where there’s also no cell service which adds to the anxiety I feel 😹
Exactly! It feels like you're watching a snuff film.
Yeah like this stuff could ACTUALLY happen. Not like Jason or Freddy Krueger.
Franklin scores bonus points for being the only person who dies by chainsaw in a movie called “the Texas chainsaw massacre.”
Leatherface's right leg dies too dont forget
Lmao true
Excellent essay. I don't understand how they have never been able to get leatherface right after the first film. He is far more unsettling as an anxious man child who kills out of fear.
TCM is the definition of lightning in a bottle. It can never be recreated
This
True. They cannot even remotely capture the same tone as the original TCM . It’s just not possible. I honestly find 80s horror movie trailers to be much creepier than modern
Horror movies.
The problem with Leatherface is he’s a “one and done” character. He is not a deep character that you can stretch out over 2 or more movies. He needs to be introduced in a movie and either killed off or imprisoned at the end of it. Trying to bring him back for a sequel just does not work. Or trying to make a reboot and ‘reimagine’ his character just doesn’t work either
Love the TCM series but it’s a hard series to build on. I think TCM 3 did the best job although it’s a bit
Messy in ways. TCM is similar to Halloween in that the main characters - the longer you try to stretch them out the more unappealing they become
I liked the 2003 depiction where he was more malicious but I agree that it’s way scarier for him to be an anxious panicky abuse victim that can’t be reasoned with because no matter what you say to him he fears his family’s punishment more
The only adaptations of Leatherface that have managed to get him right are the video game and Dead by Daylight
@@brianmeen2158 He's one and done when it comes to horror but I would watch the hell out of a long running Sawyer family sitcom
The most shocking part for me was finding myself becoming annoyed by Sally's ceaseless screaming as she's tied to the chair. It made me question my own morality.
I’m sure the actress didn’t love it either lol.
Yeah that screaming was starting to get on my nerves
I’m pretty sure that was the point.
I know exactly what you mean lol I re watched it and realized she was just going to keep screaming I double clicked and skipped ahead about a minute lol.
I was annoyed too
I always thought the marking on the van was akin to branding cattle.
Yooo that makes so much sense 😭
What's terrifying about Texas Chainsaw Massacre is that it can happen to anybody one wrong turn somewhere, and a crazy family can kill you
and eat you
Bruv not me. Not like that. They came to a place freshly ransacked by grave robbers who PLAY with corpses and then a madlad marked their van with blood. I would have gotten the fuck outta there.
@@lulupomegranate Me too
Yes, and none of this " killer that can't die " business......
You can feel this movie also on your skin in some scenes. It’s a masterpiece
The coolest thing to me is noticing that the dinner scene in re:7 is almost a direct copy of the dinner scene of this movie, hyperactive brother, older main antagonist, ancient distant relative who’s almost worshipped, the protagonist being forced to eat with them, etc. interesting to see the overlap in inspiration from 2 huge series
A little off topic but it reminds me slightly of the dinner scene in Rocky Horror
Lucas even has an extremely similar voice to the hitchhiker
So glad i wasnt the only one who noticed that in RE7
Yeah, stealing scenes is so epic
@johnclay2716 its not about stealing scenes. They took inspiration for a scene in a video game based off a cult classic horror movie from the 70's. Theres a famous saying. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."
One of my all-time favorite movie lines comes from this film:
Look what your brother did to that door!
You get the sense that he and grandpa are the real monsters in the family, and the kids are just trying to please them.
Fucking iconic
"You damn fool! Ya ruined the door!"
I thought yooouuu were in a hurry
Dont he got no.. no pride in his home?!
I think Leatherface doesn't get as much praise as a horror villain that he deserves. We all know the big 3, Michael, Jason, and Freddy who are super natural beings. But leatherface was the first villain who was just a guy in unfortunate circumstances
Leatherface is like the Connor Roy of slasher villains.
Ya except he got shot multiple times in the movies and lived
He got shot in the face in the second movie and shrugged it off
Call me crazy but I actually like the early 2000s remake.
@@Acord718yeah...it was pretty good
I always figured the Hitchhiker was marking them because he knew that Drayton would see it. Maybe that symbol means that this group is safe to go for, no weapons and non aggressive even when one of them is attacked (Franklin with the knife in the van). You'd think they must have some kind of system so that someone doesn't pull a gun or something on any of them. No symbol? Not food. Symbol? Dinner bell. They were headed towards the gas station and it had to have been the only one nearby. I think the cook noticed the symbol, told them there was no gas (though there likely was) and then told them not to go messing around in that old house. This was smart of him because what did young people hate back then? Some old person telling them what to do. He knew they wouldn't listen. He offered for them to wait, but had already told them it would be much later or tomorrow before any gas showed up so they'd go explore nearby his house in the meantime rather than sit and wait till maybe tomorrow for gas. Makes you wonder if Nubbins hitchhikes just to find new food, and how many times he's done this. Man this is a good movie. There are so many different ways to interpret dn everything
That's what I thought as well. The family doesn't seem far enough from civilization to kill every single passerby and even Ed Gein interacted with society as if he were normal. So the blood mark was probably a signal for the family to attack this particular van
For my American compadres: 43°C = 109.4 Freedom Units
Is he not American?
🔥 🦅 🔥
Freedom unit?
@@williamhauser3686🔥🦅🔥🦅🔥🇺🇸
@@williamhauser3686Fahrenheit
This film is terrifying, because there is so much of this nation that is just wide open and unknown. Ever drive down a lonely stretch of highway and see a single house? You might get a flat tire right there. And it might not be an accident. And that home may hold a psycho...
I think the most realistic unlike Jason where after some time it ain't scary is that it's realistic it has stuff that messes with minds and realism that I think to some degree it's brings out our fear instincts
This. Your comment took me back to the real life murders of Norris & Bittaker - The Toolbox Killers. They used to abduct unsuspecting young women hitchhikers in California in the 70’s and torture them.
When he explained the slaughterhouse noises being put in the movie AND WHY: gave me goosebumps from scalp to toes. They still won’t go away. The movie was already so freaky. Now it’s begging for a re-watch wow.
The movie's been a hell of a lot more disturbing for me since that clicked lmao
What happened? I don't get it
@@ec6933So basically the movie is supposed to be sort of a critique on the meat industry as the human victims of leatherface are treated the same way animals like pigs, cows, etc are treated in slaughterhouses. Thats why some of the kills have noises like that in background to really just put the fear of god in you lol.
@@Sorino_244that’s kinda dumb ngl, still a great movie though!
@Sorino_244 the animals are treated better than this.
All those sounds, and the dressing down and everything all happen after an animal is given an incredibly quick d*ath.
Edwin Neal, the actor who played Nubbins the Hitchhiker, said this about the dinner scene:
“filming that scene was the worst time of my life… and I had been in Vietnam, with people trying to kill me, so I guess that shows how bad it was."
Apparently, the actors hallucinated that they actually were their characters too and actually in the situation they were filming. Burns says she actually started to think the others were going to kill her for real. This includes Gunnar Hansen thinking he really was Leatherface. He genuinely considered killing her when told to by the other characters.
Now wonder they were hella convincing
That Texan heat is not to be underestimated
This is so interesting, but admittedly hard to believe the heat got to all of them to such a dire extent. Are there interviews about this? Genuinely curious
@@scottsspotI didn’t see that exact interview, but there’s a couple documentaries about it on Tubi worth watching. It was day time when they filmed the dinner scene, so they had to cover up all the windows. That and the heat from the lighting and stuff made it like a 130 degrees when they were filming. It was so hot that one of the decorations they made out of a real chicken started to break down and rot in the heat. The crazy temperature and the smell got to them really bad.
@@scottsspotthere’s a documentary about the filming. It wasn’t just the heat, it was the fact that it took so long, the food on the table was going off, the actors couldn’t bathe, it was dark and steaming hot and smelly also. They were under so much stress and exhausted as well.
My dad lived near where they filmed TCM whwn he was a kid. one day while riding his horse, he heard and saw a woman screamimg and he tried to help her but found out they were filmimg TCM. He got to meet Tobe Hooper, Marilyn Burns and Gunnar Hansen.
Thank you for acknowledging the sometimes excessive Franklin hate even with the jokes throughout. I don't understand how someone would not be upset being him in that situation even before people began dying bro was having a rough day.
That intro is still one of the creepiest intros to a horror film ever. The rotting bodies tied together to make the monument still looks so realistic to this day, which adds to the terrifying nature of it. I also love how gritty and visceral the film looks. Nothing can compare to it, and it still holds up really well to this day.
That dance is so iconic that even Leatherface's outro in Mortal Kombat X is him revving up the chainsaw and dancing with it (only viewable if you fail to do a fatality)
I dated a girl, and we went and saw the remake in the early 2000's. She never saw the original so one night we watched it and she said she liked the remake better and that the original was lame and boring. We didn't go on another date.
Good choice
That never really happened, did it
@@Alienkiwi730cool story tho
Should I tell you how dissapointed I could be at you if this was actually real?
Hell yeah
August in Texas blows even without being chased by chainsaws
Franklin works for me because his performance feeds into the mania of the whole thing. Yet another grating element in a film thats masterfully grating by design.
This guy gets it. One of the best explanations of why The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) is the greatest movie ever made that I’ve ever heard.
I was so surprised to find that people consider Franklin an annoying guy. I never considered him a whiny jerk, I thought everyone else was because he was excluded from every group interaction, it’s understandable that he was upset
Great review.
I’m a near 40 year old dude who’d never seen this flick until a couple years ago. And even tho I knew everything about it just through exposure to pop and film culture, I loved it. Really stuck with me.
The part I found most unsettling was Leatherface’s freak out after he kills, where he sits and tries to calm himself down. Creeped me out because his actions are totally reactionary. Nothing pre-mediated. Done out of pure fear. Urgh.
Really want to watch Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, just to see how gonzo it gets.
Part 2 is my favorite. It's a true cult classic. It's almost a parody of the first movie. It has the always fantastic Dennis Hopper who's in top form. Gonzo is a good word to describe it. I hope you like it!
It's really a great movie and it's much smarter and has a lot more stuff going on in it then a lot of people realize if they disregard it simply as a gross out horror film. People have always recognized this about it. Stanley Kubrick apparently owned an actual film print of TCM. Unfortunately, none of the sequels are particularly good, imo.
In one of the first scenes in Part 2 they play an Oingo Boingo song, set the tone of the movie really well
Imagine the effect this had on you seeing it for the first time as a teenager in the late 80’s.
It’s been supplanted into my psyche ever since.
This is the most horrifying film. So raw, gritty and very docu-style. No paranormal or supernatural. There could be a leatherface out there no one even knows about.
You basically explained why Leatherface was my favorite Slasher and why he's never been done right. In 1974 Leatherface was on the defensive and trying to interpret the world around him. He was just one member of his family. The more they downplay Leatherface's family the less interested I become of him. But it's also that Leatherface is a monster with horrible implications, the fact that he was normalized to this violence.
@@nono9543 The remake and beginning leatherface is better
Always loved the grainy 16mm look in this film. I remember hating Franklin so much when I first saw this.
The grainy look makes TCM feel like a snuff film
This has always been one of my favorite horror movies. It's deeply unsettling all these years later and was influential on horror.
As a vegetarian from the Deep South, I always got three things from this film: a critique of factory farming, a look at the tensions between hippies and older conservative southerners in the 70s and a reflection on the collapse of Southern society post-Civil War.
I watched this movie at way too young of an age lol I was probably like 8 when my babysitter showed me this movie and I never forgot the first leatherface kill scene and the way the guy seizes and where he hangs the girl up
Same, about 8 - this, The Shining, and Pet Semetary - scarred for life and I love it!
Damn. That’s way too young. I was early teens and that was bad enough. The intro with the radio in the background captures your attention straightaway and like you the scene with the meat hook has never left me ever since I first saw it.
What a FANTASTIC video! This is my all time favorite horror film and I’m someone that is a certified chicken when it comes to scary movies. One of my favorite things about this film is the incredible sound design… the THUD when Leatherface whacks those kids in the head and the SLAM of the sliding door, the strange cracking sound with the closeup shot of those spiders, the absolute SILENCE against the screams.. just amazing through and through!
the russ mcamey dig got me so good lmfao love this video sm man!
What makes this movie so effective has always been a little hard to pinpoint, it is so much more than the sum of its parts. Truly one of those rare "lightning in a bottle" movies where everything just comes together perfectly, every element adding to the nightmarish sense of dread that seems to permeate every frame.
For me the best sequence is probably Kirk's death and Pam's capture... Kirk enters the house, Leatherface appears out of the shadows, (accompanied by what sounds like pigs squealing) bludgeons Kirk, leaving him kicking and flailing on the floor, and then slams that metal door with such grim finality. The whole scene takes less than a minute, but it packs a visceral punch. 17:51 Then Pam goes to investigate, tries to flee from the house, bursts out the front door, only to be snatched back by Leatherface at the last second and dragged back inside, screaming. 18:55 This is as good as horror movies get.
This was a fantastic video. I've never seen your videos before, but I'll be sure to stay tuned for more from now on.
You made one hell of a great first impression with this one.
Leather face is the most terrifying character ever.A human being who isn't fully human,with no basic understanding of himself,I get the feeling he's been created by his own family .
He is a human being though. Just one in a really, really messed up family with extreme jubilance toward violence, influenced by the slaughterhouse mentality.
He’s so ill and delusional to the point where he might as well not be human unfortunately
If nobody else has said it, I will; you are the absolute best on the internet at these horror movie breakdowns. Your views and how you phrase them, your video production and your narration - perfect. Please don't stop!
Damn wow thank you. That really means a lot
The “if I have any more fun today” line always makes me giggle. And I love that even the actor who plays Franklin agrees that he is in his own words “such a whiny bastard”
Definitely #1 reason why TCM scary is because it seems so likely to happen, so does Michael and Jason too- but they unrealistically take hits from absurd things and shrug it off.
I think this first film and, to a lesser degree, even the second both heavily suggest that the family is practicing some bizarro form of folk magic- the ritualistic grave desecration, talismans made from bones & found objects pierced with nails (Merricat does this in We Have Always Lived in The Castle to protect her and her family), the obvious influence of the sun is even reflected across the property with sunflowers, and then there's Grandpa (& Grandma in TCM2) that have no business being animated at 98% dehydration. It's definitely not the ~point~ but an element that has always fascinated me
That’s a really cool observation. I never noticed that.
I saw this film for the first time as a young kid back in 1983 (it was famously withdrawn from video shelves in the UK and i shouldnt have seen it really 😂). The film plays like a fever ridden nightmare that is foreboding and vicous from the first frame... and it is relentless when it really gets going. It's a very unique movie experience indeed and i love how you respect the age and impact this movie has had over the last 50 years. BRAVO Evan! It's an amazing essay - you should be proud! 🎉
Great recap. I'd also just like to add that the Hitchhiker's name is still unknown. "Nubbins" was a nickname for his body, but Ed Neal told me that it wasn't his character's real name.
I'm 57. I remember the ads, and the 'coolest' teenagers talk about how awesome it was. I wanted to see it so bad, but I was 7 so. I finally got to see it when I worked in a video store my senior year of HS. I've loved it since. Yeah, a lot of the other products with the title are just bad. But, not everything. I actually like early 00s re-make with R. Lee Ermy. May be Jessica Biels best work.
I’m so glad this movie is getting all it’s flowers recently I’ve always thought how amazingly shot and horrific the realism was in this
OMG ! Despite your very young age, anytime I watch your video, I'm never disappointed. I'll never praize enough young generations recognizing masterpieces made prior to the 2000's even if some recent movies in horror genre are really pretty good. But giving so many details that set some movies apart is truly awesome. Anyway, as a 55-year-old-man, all I can say is that this very young man is a genius on his own perspective and deep dive analysis in all his videos. Keep up the excellent work buddy. I am pretty sure that your channel is about to grow fast 👍
Older movies like these are literally so much better than movies we have today!! Im 16 years old and grew up with parents born in the 60's so I ended up growing up watching the older movies which I really love
I watched Texas Chainsaw Massacre last night for the first time in years. This is no horror, but a fucking nightmare. Apart from The Exorcist I've never seen a movie portraying such an evil entity in a realistic way.
It's an incredible piece of independent film making.
What freaked me out the most was the way they mocked Sally.😮
I love how Resident Evil 7 referenced the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The beginning of the game gave it that crazy family vibe in a collapsing house in the middle of nowhere. Oh and I very like head cheese
If you didn't see TCM for the first time in a packed movie theatre, you missed it. When Kirk gets dropped and Leatherface slams the steel door shut, that Moog shot in the soundscape just rocked you through the ceiling. Talk about a "Holy WTF just happened" moment!?! This film had me flipped out for a few weeks!
Me too. I was 13.
How old were you? ☮️
@@CherylHughes-ts9jz my dad wasnt even alive lol
Honestly im Jeaulous, first time i seen it was on a discord call with one of my friends, we spent all week watching horror movies, TCM is still my favorite one out of the ones we watched
Fun fact the name of this movie in Italy Is "non aprire quella porta" or in english "do not open that Door". The name Is so far off couse translating literally "Texas chainsaw massacre" in italian Is impossible without making It sound horrible and convoluted
That’s really interesting, I’ve always wondered if translating certain sentences into other languages keeps the feeling those sentences give you or if its impact is lost in translation (like how “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” has such an ominous impact in English). I guess this is a circumstance of that effect being lost in translation. Thanks for sharing!
@@weston06. Since you are intrested i Will elaborate: in Italy A LOT of movies and books get completly different names. This Is couse english Is a much simpler language. While in english you can Just use 3 words "Texas chainsaw massacre" in italian you Need to specify the relation between them, It would be "massacro con la motosega in Texas" or "massacre with a chainsaw in Texas". Now you see why they decided to change It up completly😂
Other exemples are Dead poets society wich became "l'attimo fuggente" or "the fleeing Moment" or Home alone wich became "mamma ho perso l'aereo" or "mom i Lost the plane" or The Shawshank Redemption wich became "le ali della libertà" or "wings of freedoom"
That's interesting because in Spain it was translated "La matanza de Texas", omitting the "chainsaw" part.
In Greece it was translated as ´The schizophrenic murderer with the chainsaw´.
Wasn't expecting your commentary to be so good, from serious to comedic in a flash, bravo my guy.
Also, the screech from the meat hook is because it should've pierced a lung, loosing air pressure through your back, that the sound it "should" make if you tried to scream
I remember being like seven or so, putting the TV on, cause I thought they were playing some Batman film that day. Turns out I got the date mixed and jumped right into the middle of the hitchhiker scene in the van. I didn’t sleep too well that night.
Gonna be honest, I originally was not a fan of this film. It just wasn't for me for years. HOWEVER, after watching The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs on Shudder and listening to him talk about this film, I gave it another shot, but with an open mind and I'm starting to like it. I get more into the art of the film than the film itself, and that is what makes this film brilliant for me now.
I didn’t realize that people don’t like Franklin😅 I found him to be the only non-annoying character
I immediately liked the video when the jump scare monologue was said. my guy. respect
a true classic never goes out of style. found your channel about two weeks ago and been binging it. excited to see this upload.
Having been born in '78 and being a kid in the early 80s in rural Indiana, TTCM is kind of the possibility behind what scared me as a kid. I used to spend time at my cousin's house out in the country. We'd explore in the summer time. A property littered with old abandoned cars from the 60s, rusting and twisted with busted out headlights like hollow dead eyes. Sharp old farm implements, hooks blades and heavy car parts that could cut you wide open or smash hands and fingers. Random dead animals and bugs flying about. The smell of decay. An old white enamel refrigerator with razor sharp rusted edges waiting for you to haphazardly run your fingers across, thinking it's smooth rounded shape is safe. These cloudy memories of childhood spent in places like this really echo TCM's aesthetic for me. It's not a hard leap for kid me to think these are the kinds of people who might have used and owned this stuff. Creepy country people who might not have an issue slitting a throat and hanging people on meat hooks inside an oppressively stuffy and hot hoarder house of nightmares.
The one thing that scared me the most about the 1st Texas Chainsaw movie was the part where they were at the dining table with the supposedly dead grandma and grandpa, and the victims were forced to put their bloody finger inside the supposedly dead grandma and grandpa, and it looked like they came alive and started sucking the victims bloody finger.
The '70s had a lot of scary films that have held up well like 'I Spit On Your Grave', 'Last House on the Left' 'The Wickerman', 'Suspiria', 'Cannibal Holocaust', and my favorite 'Alien'. Even some PG rated films like 'Jaws' have held up well. It was a great time in cinema.
Terrific video essay of my favorite horror film! Thank you for this. My only complaint, and it's just a personal pet peeve of mine, is referring to the "Sawyer house" and the "Sawyer family" when talking about the first film. Yes, I know they were given that name in the sequel, but it's always felt to me like a bit of revisionist history in a 12-years-later sequel that Hooper never really wanted to make in the first place. He only agreed to do so as part of a contract that would allow him to make a couple of other films he really wanted to make. Naming the family the "Sawyers" always felt like nothing more than a cheap joke, and while it fits with the darkly comedic tone of the second movie, that type of gag just wouldn't have fit the dark and sinister tone of the original; in fact, I think referring to the family in the original film with names like "Sawyer" and "Nubbins" diminishes them and makes them less scary. Not knowing their names somehow makes them more terrifying.
And speaking of "Nubbins"...I've never been convinced that that is meant to be the hitchhiker's actual name in Part Two. I've always thought that it was nothing more than Chop Top's pet name for the hitchhiker's corpse. But that's just one man's opinion!
Finally, I'm actually planning a weekend trip to some of the filming locations in late October for my birthday, and will be staying in one of the cabins behind the gas station! Dinner at Hooper's in Kingsland is also on the itinerary. Can't wait!
Great vid. Thought this movie was boring for decades but it clicked, the sounds, the chase, the themes, it's so metal.
absolutely love these longer videos!!!
Okay I'm building an altar for you, this was such a good analysis of my favorite movie of all time, I hope you can one day get the recognition you deserve
I found this channel about 3 hours ago from this video, I don't know about you other guys here but love how much this dude genuinely loves the genre and looking at his catalogue, there's so much here to love too. Keep doing what you're doing king, you got a new subscriber and massive fan of your content 💜
...Also George A. Romero movies perhaps? 👀👀
Jeez thank you! I really appreciate that
The hitchhiker marked the van for his brother to see so they could be the next victims
God I fucking CACKLED at the Canadian comment about temperature since I live in Alberta where we get 30s in the summer but still get our friendly - 40s in the winter
I love listening to your videos while I’m working. So happy to see a new horror movie retrospective from you just in time for the chill weather we got in Indiana today!
Another banger video. I love the depth in all your videos. Iv never seen the original, but i feel like i have now 😅
This film is beautiful. It’s shot so well, and has this timeless quality while also feeling very of its time. Almost feels like an arthouse film, something recent like that would be In a Violent Nature
This is a pretty beautiful review - even if the subject matter is so grisly. Really really well done.
I love your video essay here and you brought up so many points that I haven’t seen other creators brought up. This is also one of the horror movies that I always feel a sense of dread when watching. It really is timeless and hard to sit through (in the best way).😊
This and the original rob zombie films made me actually feel bad the first time I watched them but watching them back there is something so raw and real about them, the actors in this film definitely got traumatized but it feels authentic, I’ve noticed lately the low budget horror films go back to the 70s in style and I fully respect it
Bravo 👏🏻 I've never heard anyone explain this horrific classic so close to my own experience with it. You pointed out everything i knew i loved about this movie, and some other things i didn't realize why i was so fascinated with them. Well done! 👍🏻 Such a terrifying movie that's haunted me for over 40 years now
As a huge fan of the TCM franchise, basically since my childhood. I think these film is one of the most influential and perfect horror films due to its raw intensity, innovative storytelling, and visceral impact. Although despite it's reputation, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre isn't excessively gory compared to modern horror films. Hooper relied more on suggestion and psychological horror, letting the audience’s imagination do much of the work. The lack of explicit gore combined with the terrifying context of the violence leaves a lasting psychological impact, which can be more disturbing than graphic depictions of violence.
17:52 What really makes that scene so scary and effective is its suddenness. There’s no build-up, no music that hints an upcoming fright; it’s completely silent except for the sound of the squealing pig. It’s the sound of the hammer making contact and how downright nasty it sounds and the way how Kirk drops to the floor in convulsions from the blow. The sound of the pig punctuates Kirk’s clumsy trip and the way Leatherface hits him again to make him stop moving before dragging him inside seals the terrifying deal of the whole attack. But the moment that ties it all together is when Leatherface slams the sliding door, and the music suddenly has a lasting sting that haunts the moment and leaves you sitting in shock. The entire scene doesn't even last a minute, it happens in a matter of seconds and yet it sets the tone for the rest of the movie and tells the viewers that what they’re watching is much more than just a typical slasher film.
20:43-21:23 Gunnar Hansen’s portrayal of Leatherface. Is just so iconic because it was both terrifying and multi-dimensional. Leatherface isn’t just a mentally disabled killer; he’s a disturbed and tormented figure, shaped by his abusive and dysfunctional family. Hansen's portrayal gave Leatherface depth, conveying a sense of fear and confusion as well as brutality. Something that we never saw back again since in the remake film of 2003 and in the Netflix 2022 film, they turned Leatherface into sort of a Jason Voorhees type of killer.
theres no way you only have 70k subs! Great video!
Just saw this the other day, man. Local theatre had a 50th anniversary showing. Was real surprised by how creepy certain scenes was. Was especially creeper out by the main gal running upstairs and seeing the grandpa and the corpse, real spooky sound design. I tell you hwat
Thanks for a great review. Having a crap day but reviewers like you always make things more tolerable. Keep up the great work. 😊
-"Paying" someone with a joint
-keeping actors around decomposing animal
-cutting the actress's finger
-nearly braining her with a hammer...
Definitely makes the director look like a sociopath
The low budget production value made it seem much more realistic.
You could even consider this movie to be one of the first found footage films
This was a great dive into why this movie still works so well for me! Also, the Canadians living in igloos joke gave me a good snort laugh. Good job. :)
The GOAT. The shot as we follow the girl to the house ...
Great video!! Loved all the fun facts about the filming of this movie.
Honestly I don’t blame franklin. Being a crippled back in those days must’ve been atrocious 😭
Fantastic video Evan! Can’t wait for more deep dives!❤
The feeling you get from dark, low budget horror films can be so much more effective than in your face, over the top gore! My oldest son has watched horror films since he was WAY too young. (My ex-wife took him to see Freddie vs Jason and Resident Evil 2 in the theater, IN KINDERGARTEN!) So, around 9yo, I showed him the original Night Of the Living Dead. When it was done, I was expecting him to shrug and say it was lame. He looked at me and said "That was just SO COOL! Because it was shot in black and white, with the low budget, and set at night, they used shadows and light. It wasn't what you could see clearly that terrified you, but what was hidden in the shadows!" Such depth from such a youngster!
excellent video. definitely becoming one of my favorite channels.
Thank you! I really appreciate that
I'd seen this movie many times and it always got to me, but following an experience in which I was, shall we say, viscerally exposed to the depths of human evil, suddenly I understood the film far more than I ever did. I sat in the theater as the credits rolled, sobbing and shaking uncontrollably, while my friends were at loss for how to help me. I wasn't exactly triggered, I was... spiritually horrified. This film captured the essence of cruelty, the indifference to suffering when compassion and empathy disappear.
This might be one of your best videos-thanks for this!! I learned a ton about a movie I’ve always found terrifying, but definitely didn’t fully appreciate-really appreciate your expertise on and enthusiasm for a film I think it’s easy for many to write off as torture porn!
As well as the bizarre bone furniture and such at the families house, Franklins family house also has a weird voodoo looking display Franklin spots. I think the blood symbol on the van is more of this. The Cook must have seen this on the van at the gas station and known this group of teens had come across his brother and were now marked as a target.
Absolute masterpiece & my favorite movie hands down. Thank you for the thoughtful review/retrospective. 🙏🙏🙏
nahh franklin is so valid for his reactions poor guy
It's the shot of her screaming as the truck drives off. You're initially relieved, but then... it stays on her. And she keeps screaming. And you realise she has completely lost her mind. That final gut punch that she escaped but the damage was done. Brilliant.
Damn this movie is so incredibly well made. It made my skin crawl and i felt like i had to take a shower afterwards. The Franchise overall is so much Hit and miss - i get when someone does not like it.
But the original? This one is perfection on so many levels. You feel like you saw something crazy gruesome - yet its pretty much in your head as it shows not a whole lot of gore and leaves a ton of it to the viewers Imagination.
Just. Great.
Excellent review! When I was in college in the mid 90s, I wrote 2 papers on this movie and mentioned a lot of the same stuff that you did. I had the privilege of meeting Gunnar Hansen 2 years before he died. He was very impressed when I told him it was a modern day version of Hansel & Gretel.
Definitely in my Top 10 horror films of all-time, along with The Exorcist, Halloween, Psycho, The Shining and Friday the 13th Part 2.
you kinda look like a skinnier Shane Gillis, so that's pretty cool. I dig the content, brother. Subscribed
This movie is the blueprint of what a horror movie should be. I am very tempted to call it a perfect movie since it does exactly what it should. It's like a nightmare that never stops.
You have given me a new profound appreciation for this film and I thank you for that !
The truly terrifying thing is how this movie is 50 years old already. Why is time going by so damn fast?
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