The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a low-budget horror film, made in 1974 by director Tobe Hooper and starring Marilyn Burns, Gunnar Hansen, Edwin Neal, Allen Danzinger, Paul A. Partain, and Jim Siedow.

It concerns a family of cannibals in Texas, who abduct customers from their gas station. One of the main characters — Leatherface — kills his victims with a chainsaw. The film was inspired, like the films Psycho and The Silence of the Lambs, by serial killer Ed Gein.

Contrary to popular belief, the film is not based on factual events, but instead was loosely inspired by Ed Gein, who did wear human masks. Those who do believe the film was based on actual events will try to back up their statements with similar events in Texas, all of which had nothing to do with the film. Although the film's opening would have one believe that the events are factual, it was merely a scare tactic to pull the audience in to be frightened. (Incidentally, the opening voice-over is done by John Larroquette.)

It is often considered the prototype of the slasher film sub-genre. Despite its grisly subject matter, the film — like John Carpenter's original Halloween — does not rely so much on explicit gore to generate terror in the audience, as it does pacing, suspense, and dramatic tension. The many sequels and imitators the original film spawned have been much bloodier and more graphic.

The film was banned in the United Kingdom (1974-1999, but was subsequently issued on video and DVD), Germany, and India.

The film spawned three sequels:

• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 (1986)
• (1990)
• (1997)

and a 2003 remake directed by Marcus Nispel and produced by Michael Bay.

Cultural references

• The movie Summer School featured two students who were fascinated with this film, and whose fascination was central to the story's climax.
• White Zombie reference the film's tagline "Who will survive and what will be left of them?" on their album "Astro-Creep:2000".

External links

• IMDB page for the 1974 original
• IMDB page for the 2003 remake