The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Blue Dolphin DVD
(aka: Head Cheese, Leatherface)
(1974)
review by Krug Stillo

One of the all time horror classics of the last generation, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is the best example of suggested brutal violence, as not once does one see the saw come into contact with flesh. The film was banned in Britain until 1998 and when eventually released still managed to scare
the spectator.

The story, loosely based around the Ed Gein incidents, concerns a vanload of kids who unwisely venture into the Texan wilderness to an empty dilapidated house. Unknown to them, an insane family of cannibals live across the field
and one by one they’re picked off until only Sally (Burns, who also features in Hooper’s other horror, Death Trap) remains. For its period the films was extremely shocking and marked Hooper’s debut as horror icon to be reckoned
with. Even though the budgets escalated The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is the best film of his career. Hansen’s Leatherface is also a nightmarish creation. Never before or since has a single character jangled the nerves as
he chases his prey, screaming and wielding a chainsaw around his head.

This disk features a great commentary by Hooper, Hansen and Daniel (cinematographer). They seem quite sadistic in a jolly sort of way, especially as they all laugh gleefully whenever someone is being tortured or harmed on screen. Other features include trailers for all the sequels and an
interesting blooper reel.

Made for little money, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre still has the capacity to frighten without graphic violence, proving that sometimes less is definitely more…