The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

Name: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Horror
Released: October 1, 1974
Duration: 83 min
Rating: 87
Cast: Edwin Neal, Marilyn Burns

1974

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 12 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 187 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	Your Score
7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 187 Ratings

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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

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Movie Details & Credits

Bryanston Distributing | Release Date: October 1, 1974 | R

Starring: Edwin Neal, Marilyn Burns

Summary: The story begins with five innocent kids on their way to checkout reports of grave robbing. As Sally, (Burns) her invalid brother Franklin, and three friends head out to inspect the gravesite of her family, they are soon side tracked on the ultimate journey of terror. One by one, they wander into the murderous clutches of Leatherface andThe story begins with five innocent kids on their way to checkout reports of grave robbing. As Sally, (Burns) her invalid brother Franklin, and three friends head out to inspect the gravesite of her family, they are soon side tracked on the ultimate journey of terror. One by one, they wander into the murderous clutches of Leatherface and his trusty chainsaw. The poster reads: "Who will survive and what will be left of them?" In this case, not much, and what is...well, becomes the main course. [House of Horrors]… Expand

Director: Tobe Hooper

Genre(s): Mystery, Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 83 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Chris Parcellin

A black-humored, unflinching look at the Ugly American at his psychotic worst. And Tobe Hooper is at his best as a writer and director here. Read full review

100

Empire Kim Newman

The film has outstanding sound effects, art direction and editing, and a clutch of effective, if necessarily, one-note performances. Read full review

100

Empire William Thomas

The most purely horrifying horror movie ever made. Read full review

100

Scott Tobias

The film never loses its intensity from the first moment Leatherface's sledgehammer drops. It's horror without a safety net: Survival isn't guaranteed for anyone, heroism and struggle are often futile, and as the old adage says, you can never come home again. Read full review

100

Eric Henderson

What separates Texas Chainsaw Massacre from its predecessors is its anarchic, cynical hysteria—its bizarre and dark-as-hell gallows humor. Read full review

Mike Emery

Hooper's vision is horrid yet engrossing... But the worst part about this vision is that despite its sensational aspects, it never seems too far from what could be the truth. Read full review

Roger Ebert

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is as violent and gruesome and blood-soaked as the title promises -- a real Grand Guignol of a movie. It’s also without any apparent purpose, unless the creation of disgust and fright is a purpose. And yet in its own way, the movie is some kind of weird, off-the-wall achievement. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to make a movie like this, and yet it’s well-made, well-acted, and all too effective. Read full review

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User Reviews

lukechristiansc

May 5, 2014

I was watching Hooper's Classic movie Texas chain saw . I was just grossed when i saw the film, not only is it sick , gross , distrubing Its Awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!! . " Hopper's Chain saw massacre is the new horror movie but amazing ". Grade A+

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Greyhoundes

Feb 1, 2021

Masterpiece Masterpiece Masterpiece Masterpiece Masterpiece Masterpiece Masterpiece

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

johnd6213

Feb 20, 2020

TCM is the most horrifying movie ever.It blows the socks off of most other horror movies.
I defy anyone to name me a more horrifying movie.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

IanReyP.

Oct 18, 2008

I have only watched this version of the Texas Chainsaw, and it had a good story. The sounds really spooked me, and I had to lower the volume. I was scared in some scenes but I wished those scenes were expanded more, I did not felt so much is some of them. Since this film was made in the 70s I have only watched this version of the Texas Chainsaw, and it had a good story. The sounds really spooked me, and I had to lower the volume. I was scared in some scenes but I wished those scenes were expanded more, I did not felt so much is some of them. Since this film was made in the 70s I had to give a bigger credit and give it a 9.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

hardcorekidd

May 11, 2018

When Sally (Marilyn Burns) hears that her grandfather's grave may have been vandalized, she and her paraplegic brother, Franklin (Paul A. Partain), set out with their friends to investigate. After a detour to their family's old farmhouse, they discover a group of crazed, murderous outcastsWhen Sally (Marilyn Burns) hears that her grandfather's grave may have been vandalized, she and her paraplegic brother, Franklin (Paul A. Partain), set out with their friends to investigate. After a detour to their family's old farmhouse, they discover a group of crazed, murderous outcasts living next door. As the group is attacked one by one by the chainsaw-wielding Leather-face (Gunnar Hansen), who wears a mask of human skin, the survivors must do everything they can to escape. Thanks to a smart script and documentary-style camerawork, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre achieves start-to-finish suspense, making it a classic in low-budget exploitation cinema. I give The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) an A-.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Tyrant719

May 27, 2021

This is a decent horror movie. It’s definitely influential in the horror genre, but I don’t think the influence is as drastic as certain fans may portray it to be. The concept of violent depravity wasn’t new (Last House on the Left); the concept of backwood delinquents wasn’t newThis is a decent horror movie. It’s definitely influential in the horror genre, but I don’t think the influence is as drastic as certain fans may portray it to be. The concept of violent depravity wasn’t new (Last House on the Left); the concept of backwood delinquents wasn’t new (Deliverance); the concept of cannibalism wasn’t new (Cannibal Holocaust). What this film did was take those taboo subjects and put them in a movie that was offensive enough to garner attention, but, at the same time, easier to play to a wider audience than the previously mentioned films. It more or less just IMPLIES, or simulates, the worst things that happen in the story so that they still happened but the film could avoid being censored. The “controversy” surrounding the film also helped push it to the mainstream, but that seems to be more of a result of this film capitalizing on the organic controversy that the previously mentioned predecessors actually garnered. The story was written in a way that when people recounted the movie to friends, it made the movie seem worse than it really plays out. In all honesty, with all respect for its influence on the genre as a whole (which is overblown), you have to really be able to drown out the constant screaming of the lead actress to enjoy the last third of the movie. Plus, the “smart writing” that I saw described by much more informed critics must have been from another movie since these characters seem to be on Valium; aside from the main girl, who seems to suffer from schizophrenia. Don’t expect this film to be what critics play up to be. If you’re looking for a real classic 70’s horror movie, The Exorcist and Halloween are far and above this one, hands down.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Ninteundo

Apr 21, 2018

Movie full of mindless murdering, I really dont understand why this movie gets so much praise.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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