Product: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Original Uncut) [Region 2] (1974)
Rating: 5.0
STILL VERY REAL, STILL VERY SCARY 9.5 OUT OF 10
This is a horror masterpiece, and it has hardly aged even after being released in 1974. This film was so controversial when it was released it was banned in countries like Britain for several years. This film still gets under your skin and makes you afraid because all of this could very well happen. While most critics praised this film, there were some (Ahem, Roger Ebert) who did not like it for its gruesome violence and unflinching take on horror films. If you love horror films you must see this film and experience true horror.WHAT IT'S ABOUT: Five friends; Sally, Franklin, Jerry, Pam, and Kirk decide to go visit an old house in which Sally and Franklin's grandparents used to live, while stopping by an old cemetary to see if their grandparents have been dug up because of recent reports of grave robbing. On their way to the house after visiting the cemetary, they pick up a hitchhiker who turns out to be crazy and assaults Franklin, and is immediately thrown out of the van. They get to the old abandoned and they're having fun for the most part, until Kirk and Pam wander off by themselves and find a strange house. When Kirk wanders inside, he is killed by Leatherface, the main antagonist in the film, and Pam is kidnapped and stuck on a hook. Quickly, the other three realize something is wrong when the other two don't return, and find out they are being hunted by a family of serial killers who decorate their home with bones and body parts from animals and people, and they also like to eat people. Now the group must try and survive and not be killed by this family.MUSIC: The music in this film is very bizarre, yet it fits the raw and uncompromising mood of such a violent and disturbing film. It takes some time to get used to, but once you do, it fits very well.ACTION: This film isn't so much about gore as it is about shocking you with disturbing imagery. This is still very scary and horrifying even after 35 years. However, that's still not to say that this film isn't gory, because it really is at times. This film will gross you out and send chills down your spine.ACTING: Surprisingly, these actors were pretty good for people who were hired out of the Texas area where the film was shot. Marilyn Burns delivers one of the best performances in horror film history, and she does make you know that's she terrified and she seems very real. She is quite simply, brilliant to say the least. Props to this area.OVERALL: If you have not seen this horror classic, then you must. It will still scare the hell out of you and it will still horrify you with shocking imagery. This package also includes a second disc which delves deep into the making of this film. It's an excellent package for an excellent film. This horror film is simply superb, and Roger Ebert and his 2 out of 4 star rating of this film can go to hell along with anyone else who complains about the violence in this film or says it's boring.THE GOOD: Disturbing, scary, gory, good music, great acting, and it feels very real in every way.THE BAD: Slow beginning and a few moments of cheesy acting.