The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

Rating: R

Country: US

Running Time: 84 minutes

Director: Tobe Hooper

Starring: Marilyn Burns, Gunnar Hansen, Edwin Neal, Allen Danziger, Paul A. Partain, etc.

It's safe to say that The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is one of the best horror films ever made. Controversial, uncanny, eerie and astonishing, it forever will be one of the moves seethed into my memory. Released in 1974, it single-handely redefined the genre and shocked general audiences and critics straight to the bone. Even in it's extremely low-budget, it succeeds and sets off like none other. Instead of completely centering and focusing on gore and blood, it's coated in a frightening and creepy atomsphere marred with a equally terrifying and realistic outline. It's pure psychological horror at its finest. It evokes a unique sense of primal fear, desperation and an emotional output and feeling for the entire ensemble (three fourths of which get hacked to shreds by our notorious chainsaw-wielding icon). The film also stands the test of time despite its constant flaws and numerous poor quality additions. Marilyn Burns in my opinon gives out an underrated and incomprehensible performances as an ordinary women driven into panic. In fact, I would call it one of the greatest ever. However, not all is good in this. The plotline is a bit simplistic and like previously stated its a bit dry in delivering the goods. Overall the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a brilliant and outstanding landmark achievement from Tobe Hooper who lately can't seem to pull himself together. It landed a bigger effect and impact in pop culture than any other horror production screened in theaters, and it's the quintessential horror film of the 70s. Remarkable.

Pros: Gave horror a fresh whole new lead. Gave us one of the most memorable, dire and sadistic fictitious mass murderers ever: Leatherface. Well planned out and set up. Great performance from Marilyn Burns. Amazing final segment and downright terrifying. The most important film to come out in the 70s categorized in horror.

Cons: At times boring and the cinematography and soundtrack is of the worst ever heard and seen in a long time.

Recommended? Yes.

9 out of 10