Product: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Original Uncut) [Region 2] (1974)
Rating: 5.0
Absolutely terrifying
This would have to be the scariest movie I have ever seen. It absolutely sent chills down my spine. The fright factor is a definite 11 out of 10.Once you get past the whole 'this is a true story' schlock (face it, people, when they say it is loosely based on the Ed Gein story, the truth is there are so many holes in the seam connecting the real life story to the movie, you could stick a turbo jet through it), and sit back and enjoy this gory slash and hack movie for what it is, the images alone are enough to give you nightmares for a month.Now, it takes a fair bit to freak me out. I first saw Evil Dead when I was 12, and I was into the scariest horror novels around before I'd turned 14 (why they never made any of John Saul's books into movies is beyond me), so I do not scare easily. I thought the final scenes of Hannibal were rather warm and fuzzy. Then again, who didn't?But this movie scared the hell out of me. If you love being scared, and have a really strong stomach, then get this movie.Personally, I prefer the original edition to the uncut edition. Leatherface's first appearance is much more abrupt and frightening. The way he dances around and waves his arms about in the uncut version is just kind of silly.But the real gut wrencher is in watching each of the teens going looking for their friends, and waiting for them to get jumped as well.I thought the whole 'Grandpa' bit was sort of dodgy, but that could be overlooked. The whole nuance of the film is just pure classic. And it isn't the concept that it is based on a true story that makes it frightening. Because anyone with an ounce of sense knows the story of Ed Gein was nothing like this movie. For me, it is the knowledge that it _could_ happen, any time or anywhere, that is truly frightening. God knows there are enough sickoes out there to make it likely.