Product: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Original Uncut) [Region 2] (1974)
Rating: 5.0
The Original "Inbred Cannibal"/Evil Hillbilly Movie
This ultimate classic of modern horror takes place in the summer of 1973, where, in a rural Texas community, a series of grave robbins have plagued local cemetaries, and soon, citizens flock to the graves to see if loved ones have been tampered with, among the concerned, is a van of regular young adults at the time (semi-hippies). After visiting the graveyard, the five friends, Sally, her invalid brother Franklin, her apparent boyfriend Jerry, and their two other friends, a couple, Pam & Kirk, decide to go on a nice afternoon drive, however, as the pass a lone slaughterhouse in the vast farmlands of Texas, they soon encounter a hitchhiker, and pick him up, this proves to be a huge mistake. Inside the van, they get a better look at their new companion, who looks like Charlie Manson, he also talks like he has schizoprenia or something. The hitcher soon reveals himself to be as deranged as he looks, and after slashing his hand with a knife & taking a very awkward picture of the mortified Franklin (& even tries to sell it to them), the hitcher pulls out a straight razor & slashes Franklin's arm, and he is thrown out the van. Panicking, the stop at a nearby gas station/bbq stand, owned by an old country man, who informs them that he is out of gas, they then asks directions to Franklin's grandfather's unoccupied rural home, before they leave, the old man warns them not to mess around the backwoods, but they ignore him. Soon they arrive at the decaying old house, which is in ruins, so, while Sally, Franklin & Jerry check out the house, Kirk & Pam decide to sneak off & go swimming, however, they find the pond dry, but in the process come across a large old farmhouse, and needing gas, they decide to go ask for some.From this point on, The "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" ensues, as our young heroes discover that they have wandered into the lair of a serial killing, grave robbing clan of ex-butchers, who include a zombie-like 100+ year old grandfather (also an ex-killer), his long dead wife grandma (who the family keep preserved like a mummy in their attic, think Psycho/Bates), and 3 brothers, the old man from the gas station, who is actually mentally unstable & abusive to his family, the hitchhiker, who is the grave robber mentioned earlier, and the now legendary skin wearing, transvestite, slasher icon Leatherface, who, unlike most film slashers, is not evil or mean, in actuality, he is extremely mentally retarded, scarred of every one around him (including his abusive kin & the victims) & most of his kills are after people invade his home. And unlike the various incarnations of this legendary slasher, he is not deformed (although he does have "deformed" baby teeth), Leatherface wears human faces because he has no personality, each face is a differnt persona for him, in the scenes where he is killing or butchering, he wears work clothes & an old, faded, beat up skin mask, later, when he is cooking, he has an apron, an old lady face mask & a grey wig, and finally at dinner, he gets all dressed up, in a suit & tie, and the face of a once pretty woman, which he smears with make-up.The kills are not really gory, however, they are very effective & disturbing to watch (people being killed like simple cattle via sledgehammers, meat hooks & chainsaws). There is also priceless black humor in this film, remarking on such things as capitalism & "family pride".Although it is implied that the family are inbred, cannibals & sell human meat at their bbq, these acts are never actually addressed in the movie, and it is left up to the viewer. Acting is very real, the characters very belivable, the writing is pretty good for an early 1970's movie, but what makes it soooo disturbing, is that it was shot like a documentary, grainy, saturated, filmed on 16mm. The film's villians are also based on real life grave robbing cannibal & skin wearing serial killer Ed Gein, who also inspired Psycho's Norman Bates (explaining their dead grandma). The extras included are fantastic, and worthwhile. Check out the commentaries & main documentary. Any TRUE horror fan shold have this by now, get it! case closed!