One of the hopes that I always have with the Halloween Horrors series each year is that we possibly introduce at least one reader to a film that they were previously unaware of or unfamiliar with. That said, odds are that we will NOT be “introducing” anyone to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Widely considered as one of the greatest and most influential horror films of all time, it has spawned sequels, remakes, comic books, toys, and even video games. Everyone knows Leatherface.

However, for many of us (myself included), our first time actually watching the film is something of a “rite of passage”. For years, the film was portrayed as “the nastiest of the nasty”. I personally remember my older siblings and their friends discussing this film in a manner that made it seem as though even catching a glimpse of the film would scare me into a catatonic state in which I lose complete control of my bowel movements.

Our next contributor to Halloween Horrors 2024 shares a similar story of his introduction to this legendary tale of horror. Please welcome our friend Andrew Guthlein of the Talking Terror podcast back to the series. Once again, I’m honored and thrilled to have our friend Andrew joining us this Halloween season, and as always, be sure to tune in to Talking Terror (https://www.blogtalkradio.com/talkingterrorpresents) Wednesdays at 9pm EST/6pm PST for new episodes.

 

 

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
By Andrew Guthlein

 

To be honest, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was the first film to ever terrify me, without seeing a second of the actual film. So, let’s go back to the days of the video store. You remember, those Meccas to celluloid? There were seemingly endless shelves of movies to rent, and as a kid, this store was my home. I would always be roaming around the horror aisle, seeking out a new thrill.

One day though, I came across a VHS that would cause many nightmares just based on the cover alone. That movie was a documentary called “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: A Family Portrait”. The cover featured Leatherface in the third act of the movie, chainsaw in hand and makeup smeared all over a crude mask. I, of course, assumed this was a real documentary and bravely avoided watching even a second of it.

Cut to many years later… I’m now in high school and much more seasoned in the horror genre. I still had not watched The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, yet I was ready for Freddy, had gone trick-or-treating with Michael, and had even spent a few summers with Jason. One day, while talking about horror with a friend of mine, he highly recommended The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. He wove tales of a chainsaw maniac named Leatherface and his family of cannibals.

Okay, so this convinced me. His argument for me to watch it had won me over. I needed to see this thing through. I needed to see if I had what it takes to survive The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I should also add that he made sure that I knew that the “Family Portrait” movie was not the actual movie. What a mistake that would have been, am I right?

I rode my bike over to the local Mom & Pop video store, and amidst all the clamshell VHS cases… there it was! Just lingering there, almost innocently. I could hear the hum of the chainsaw, almost beckoning me like a siren’s song. Leatherface was lifting a girl into the air onto a meat hook! The tag line staring me in the face: “Who Will Survive and What Will Be Left of Them?” I was ready, after all these years. I was going to meet Leatherface and his family of psychopaths.

As the film ended, I watched as Sally was saved and Leatherface was left injured; his brother dead, and the only thing he could do was dance with his trusty chainsaw. I was hooked by The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It was funny, it was scary, and it had a sweatiness and grit that I still feel most films lack these days. I would eventually watch the sequels, and while I enjoyed them, nothing could compare to Tobe Hooper’s 1974 classic.

There was something about Leatherface that really drew me in. He was chubby and tall, and as someone who can relate to being overweight and tall, I appreciated Hooper for crafting such a character. While he is a psychopathic killer, you almost feel bad for him in way. He’s not a movie monster that gets enjoyment out of murder. He does it for his family, both as a protector and a provider of the meat, human or otherwise.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and I’d like to think that this slice of 70’s horror/exploitation still resonates with horror fans the world over. While having almost no bloodshed whatsoever, you might just think it’s a bloodbath by the end if it’s your first time watching it. 

So, have a Happy Halloween, folks, and remember… The Saw is Family!!