There are horror films, and then there's The Texas Chain Saw Massacre — a cinematic juggernaut that forever changed the genre when it first terrorized audiences in 1974. To mark the 50th anniversary of Tobe Hooper's gruesome masterpiece, Dark Sky Films has released a new trailer, reigniting the terror just in time for its October 2024 theatrical re-release.
While the film shocked its original viewers with its gritty realism and nerve-rattling tension, it's important to remember the context in which it arrived. Released during a politically volatile time in America, Texas Chain Saw Massacre tapped into the country's latent fears and anxieties. Hooper's blend of documentary-style horror, mixed with iconic imagery like Leatherface's human-skin mask and roaring chainsaw, revolutionized the genre. Made on a budget of just $140,000, the film grossed an astonishing $30 million during its first theatrical run.
What makes this movie endure? For starters, it's the raw intensity — a factor the director dialed up despite his efforts to limit on-screen gore in hopes of achieving a PG rating. The MPAA, unimpressed by this restraint, slapped the film with an R rating anyway. Nonetheless, the visceral impact of Texas Chain Saw Massacre comes more from what we don't see than what we do. The sparse use of gore, combined with unnerving sound design and an unrelenting sense of dread, created a horror experience that sticks with audiences long after the credits roll.
Starring Marilyn Burns, Gunnar Hansen, and Paul A. Partain, this cult classic is now back in a stunning 4K restoration. In addition to the re-release, there's a new documentary titled Chain Reactions that explores the cultural footprint of this timeless horror film.
Catch the terror on the big screen again this fall and witness the film that turned horror upside down — because 50 years later, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is still as terrifying as ever.
