Product: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Original Uncut) [Region 2] (1974)
Rating: 5.0
A stunning feat of film making....
If you were to ask me what the greatest horror movie was, 3 years ago, i would have undoubtabley told you it was John Carpenter's "Halloween". I had seen almost every horror film worth watching, all of the greats. (Night of the living dead, Friday the 13th, A nightmare on elm street, etc.) But none had had the power to strike me so mercilessly as that one did, until october, 2001. On the 31st i settled down with a group of friends to watch Tobe Hooper's contoversial "Texas Chainsaw Massacre". To be honest, knowing its reputation for being a pointless display of blood and carnage, I was not expecting much, just another run of the mill, cheesey slasher flick. Within the first ten minutes of the film i had a completely different point of view. This film is unstoppabley terrifying. And i can hear you saying, "its a horror movie stupid its supposed to be!" but bare with me. When you actually look at most horror films, even the well-made ones, it is not often that you come away feeling the utmost sense of fear. The kind of fear that makes you think twice about turning off your bedroom lights, or even opening the door to your dark kitchen to get a glass of water in the middle of the night. That is the power of this film. Its plots and characters will remain in your head for weeks and weeks. I have watched it many times since then in an attempt to figure it out. The amazing and frightening thing about this film is its appatrent simplisity. Most horror films to date try to develop complex story lines that often get them tangled and easily overcome by the viewer. This film is 100% shock and horror from start to finish with no escapesat daytime or in the presence of the "hero". Another thing i noticed is that despite its bloody reputation, the amount of blood in this film is signifinately minute, especially when compared to other horror films: yet again, a display of its brilliance. This film doesn't need vast amounts of blood to drive fear into the hearts of the viewers. Its psychological storyline and other visual images are much more powerful than any amounts of blood and gore. Since i saw this film "Halloween" has been bumped of the number 1 spot in my list, and is now settled comfortabley at number 2, followed by "The Silence of the lambs". Even two unforgetable films like these are not a patch on "chainsaw massacre". To round of this review i will say quite simply, that "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" is the greates horror movie ever made, a stunning feat of filmaking, and not be missed by any fan of this genre.